December 15-21 at Grace
Messiah Sing Along
The fourth annual Messiah Sing Along at Grace Church is Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 PM.
Come listen to professional soloists Caroline Brent-Chessum, soprano; Emily Skilling, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Pilkington, tenor; and Benjamin Schoening, bass, sing the arias. Then stand to join your voices together for the choruses. If you have your own score please do bring it, but we will have copies for you to borrow if you don’t. Our voices will be supported by the Cumberland Orchestra and directed by Lynn Swanson.
All ages and musical abilities are welcome. Grace encourages families to come with their children to hear or sing Messiah! For families that prefer it, free childcare will be available for children age 5 and under. Please help us spread the word by sharing the Facebook event post.
Deadline: Artwork for Christmas Bulletins
We’d love to have more original art for the Christmas Eve bulletins and this Sunday, December 15, is the deadline to submit! Late submissions may be shared on social media.
Parishioners of all ages are invited to participate. Please use pencils, paint, crayons, or markers to draw a nativity scene on a piece of paper that can be scanned. (Photos of artwork may not reproduce well.) Include your name and, for children and youth, your age/or grade so we can properly credit our artists! Give artwork to Fr. Brandon this Sunday or scan (300 dpi or higher and saved as a .jpeg image or .pdf file) and email it to Jennifer Williams
Pageant Rehearsal December 15 & 22
The annual Christmas Pageant will be presented at the 4:00 PM service on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24. Rehearsals are scheduled on December 15 and December 22 following the 10:45 AM service. If your child/youth would like a spoken part or would like to play a main character (Mary, wise man, etc.) they should plan on attending these rehearsals.
Small children are welcome to participate with the assistance of a caring adult. Let Fr. Brandon know if you’d like to help.
Christmas Fellowship and Caroling
Children, youth, and their families are invited to spread some Christmas cheer, caroling at Lanier Village Estates on Wednesday, December 18. We will gather in the parish hall at 5 PM for dinner and fellowship. Anyone who would like to participate in a white elephant gift exchange should bring an unmarked, wrapped gift. The gift should not exceed $15. Theme: Things That Start With the First Letter of Your First Name. We will caravan to LVE and sing carols at 6:30pm. Bring a friend!
If you plan to attend, please let Fr. Brandon know by Monday, December 16 so he can get an estimate for how much pizza to order.
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.
Deadline: 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.
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. 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.
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.
Christmas Trees
All parishioners are invited to contribute an ornament for our Family Tree in the nave or the Chicken Tree in the parish hall. You may hang it on the tree yourself or drop it by the parish office so we can hang it for you. Consider writing your name, and perhaps the year, on the ornament or on a ribbon attached to the ornament. 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 22 Pageant Rehearsal
- December 24 Christmas Eve
- January 5 EYC Epiphany Party
- January 12 Vestry Election begins
- January 17-19 Women’s Retreat
- January 22 COG Registration begins
- January 26 Concert: Lux
- February 2 Annual Meeting
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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