December 8-14 at Grace
Advent Lessons & Carols
Advent Lessons & Carols will be offered during the 10:45 AM service on Sunday, December 8. This beautiful service, an Anglican tradition, is meant to help us prepare for Christmas. Scripture will be read and Advent carols will be sung by the choir and congregation.
Blood Drive
Do you want to help save lives? Please consider donating blood to honor the memory of parishioner Patrick Kelley, son of Charles and Cheryl, who passed away in a motor vehicle accident in 2011.
The Patrick Kelley Memorial Blood Drive will be held in the parish hall on Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. To give blood you must be in good health, 16 years (with parental permission) or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and show a valid photo I.D. Donors will receive a $20 e-gift card and a blood donor t-shirt, while supplies last.
Ministry Audit Continues
Fr. Stuart is conducting a “ministry audit” this month, in an effort to gain a fuller picture of our ministry and mission. All ministry groups, from outside groups to guilds to choir to preschool, are encouraged to email him an account of what happens within your ministry offerings.
Artwork for Christmas Bulletins
Grace Church is again inviting members of the parish to submit original artwork depicting the nativity for us to share in worship bulletins and on social media during the Christmas season. We would love to feature art by adults, youth, and children of the parish.
Please use colored pencils, paint, crayons, pencil, or markers to draw a nativity scene on a piece of paper that can be scanned. (Photos of artwork may not reproduce as well in the bulletin.) Include your name and, for children and youth, your age/or grade so we can properly credit our artists!
Artwork must be submitted by Sunday, December 15 to be included in one of the service bulletins, late entries may be shared on social media. Give artwork to Fr. Brandon during Christian Education on Sundays, bring it to the parish office, or scan (at 300 dpi or higher and saved as a .jpeg image or .pdf file) and email it to Jennifer Williams.
Christian Education
Christian Education classes meet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM most Sundays until May 4. This winter, CE will not meet on December 29, January 19, and February 16.
Food Pantry Food Drive for Advent
During the four weeks of Advent, Grace Church is collecting food for the Gainesville-Hall County Food Pantry. The Food Pantry was started in 1973 by four local congregations and is still run by Grace, First United Methodist, First Presbyterian, First Baptist on Green Street and St Paul Methodist on Washington Street. Each church pledges financial support and takes 5, two week turns a year. We are striving to keep families and individuals in our community from going hungry. Our clientele are homeless, seniors on limited income, families with children, individuals without children. They are black, white, brown; they are Hispanic and Non Hispanic; they speak English or are non speakers of English. The need in our community is great.
Will you please help by taking a grocery bag and returning it with cans of corn or green beans, canned fruit, tuna, dried beans such as lentils, 16 oz jars of peanut butter, jars of pasta sauce, bars of soap, or toilet paper?
Bags can be picked up in the lower lobby starting December 1. You may return the bags to the lower lobby or to the church office. Monetary donations are also accepted. Checks may be made out to Grace Episcopal Church with Food Pantry in the “for” line.
If you want more information, contact Beth Neidenbach
Christmas Eve Prelude
Inviting all young musicians to play a piece for our family Christmas Eve service at 4:00 PM. It has been tradition for children or youth to play a Christmas piece as part of the musical prelude for that service. This may be on whatever instrument your young musician is currently studying.
Please email Lynn Swanson by Monday, December 16: 1) your musician’s name, 2) title of the piece, 3) composer/arranger. It’s preferred that the piece is sacred, but it is not a requirement.
Christmas Flowers & Greenery
Beautiful flowers and greenery enhance our celebration of The Nativity of Our Lord at Grace Church, and you can help make that celebration special. Contributions to our Christmas flower and greenery fund may be made in thanksgiving for or in memory of loved ones, friends and family. Notice of your donation will be included in the worship bulletin on Christmas Eve.
If you would like to make an offering, please submit both the online form and your donation ($50 suggested minimum) by Sunday, December 15.
Christmas Trees
Years ago we began a tradition of decorating a Grace Family Tree. The tree is located in the nave so we may enjoy seeing it whether we participate in services in person or via the livestream. If you are new to Grace, haven’t yet contributed an ornament, or would like to contribute another, please bring one in and hang it on the tree or drop it by the parish office so we can hang it for you. Consider writing your name, and perhaps the year, somewhere on the ornament or on a ribbon attached to the ornament.
Grace also has a chicken tree (yes, a chicken tree!) in the parish hall. If you are out and about and run across an ornament that fits the theme, consider adding it to the tree.
At the end of the season, all ornaments for both trees are stored at Grace to be put back on next year. Don’t miss this chance to leave a small Christmas legacy at Grace.
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- December 15 Pageant Rehearsal
- December 15 Messiah Sing Along
- December 18 Christmas Caroling at LVE
- December 22 Pageant Rehearsal
- December 24 Christmas Eve
The Glimpses of Grace Podcast
We invite you to explore the podcast on Spotify (or your podcast app of choice) or here on this website!
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