November 17-23 at Grace
Thanksgiving Potluck
We ordered a little extra turkey for the Thanksgiving potluck, so if you missed the chance to sign up and still want to attend we’d love to have you. Bring a side dish or dessert to share and join us in the parish hall on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:00 PM. We’ll enjoy a feast and each other’s company as we give thanks for all the blessings in our lives!
Christian Education
Christian Education classes for children, youth, and adults will meet from 9:30 – 10:30 AM most Sundays until May 4.
FOM Volunteer Request
Friends of Music is in real need of volunteers to help host receptions for our concert series, but in particular for the upcoming Messiah Sing Along on Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 PM. If we are to continue hosting receptions for our musical events, we must expand our volunteer base. Our receptions are an important part of our events because it gives us an opportunity to connect with members of the audience who come from outside Grace Church.
Currently, we have two friends who purchase all the food and bring it to the church. What we are looking for is a couple of people to organize 5 – 6 volunteers to help on the day of the event. The reception commitment means arriving an hour before the concert to plate the food, place it on the serving table, make the punch, place tablecloths on a few tables and if possible, add some light decorations and finally to clean up after the reception.
For Messiah Sing Along it will take about 12 volunteers just to manage the music side of this event hence my plea for help with the reception piece.
If you can help with Messiah Sing Along (December 15 at 3:00 PM), or the other concerts coming up (January 26, March 30 or May 18 at 4:00 PM), we would surely appreciate it!
Thanks for your consideration. Please email me, Lynn Swanson, to let me know of your interest.
Camp Mikell
Registration is now open for summer camp at Camp Mikell, our diocesan camp and conference center! Jessica LeFiles (Camp Mikell executive director) and Anna Dinwiddie (summer camp director) will visit during the Christian Education hour (9:30-10:30 AM) on Sunday, February 23 to meet with families, play games, and answer questions about summer camp at Mikell.
Click here to learn more.
Vestry Nominating Committee
The Vestry Nominating Committee has begun their work to consider eligible members of the Parish for election to the Vestry at the next annual meeting. If you are interested in running, or nominating someone, for an open vestry position please email Beth R Neidenbach at brneidenbach@gmail.com.
To be elected to serve on the Vestry a nominee must be a confirmed communicant in good standing of the Parish who is not less than eighteen (18) years of age, a regular attendant at the services of the Church in the year preceding election, and known by the Treasurer to have made and fulfilled a stated financial commitment for church support in the year preceding election.
Ministry Audit During December
From time to time, it is always a great idea to actually gain more clarity on the scope of ministry at Grace, from all aspects of our lives from Children of Grace Preschool to Flower Guild to the Poetry Group. There is so much happening during the week, in addition to the rich spaces for worship and prayer on Sundays. While it may not be possible to capture everything that happens within the life of the parish, I want to see about using December as a time to gain a fuller picture of our ministry and mission.
To that end, I invite any ministry group, from outside groups to guilds to choir to preschool to email me a count of what happens within your ministry offerings. We will collect these and create a profile for the parish that we will use toward the Annual Meeting after the first of the year.
Above all, I am in awe of the investment this community makes as we share in worship, prayer, formation, and service.
Gratefully,
Stuart
Prayer Yoga
Prayer yoga classes are on pause for an indeterminate length of time. Please keep watching this newsletter for updates.
Dates for Your Calendar
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
- December 1 Advent Wreath Making
- December 3 Advent Sound Bath
- December 8 Confirmation
- December 14 Blood Drive
- December 15 Pageant Rehearsal
- December 15 Messiah Sing Along
- December 18 Christmas Caroling at LVE
- December 22 Pageant Rehearsal
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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