Greetings!
Our Kentucky Mission Team will be travelling home on Saturday after a busy and very productive week of clean-up and re-building following the destruction from tornados last December. Please pray for their safe travels.
This Sunday, Pastor Bill continues the Always God Series with his message God is Always Restoring. The scripture reference is from Jeremiah 18:1-6
Membership Classes continue this Sunday at 10:10 a.m. in Room 101.
Downtown Indiana Light Up Night – November 18. Well…it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Downtown Indiana. The 43-foot tree is up in IRMC Park, and ready for the big light-up tonight. Our float is decorated and ready to roll, so bundle up and join the fun.
In addition to the parade, the Outreach Team is providing a Warming Station in our Welcome Center from 6 – 8:30 p.m. where they will be providing cookies, hot chocolate, and warm smiling greeters. A holiday photo backdrop will be available for family pictures. If you are baking cookies for the event, please bring them to the church today by 5 p.m.
YOUTH GROUP – The youth group will meet on Sunday evening as usual in the Growth Center. If you have a student between 6th and 12th grades, encourage them to come out and join the fun.
SCHOLARSHIPS – The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation provides matching scholarships for students who are attending a participating United Methodist-related school.
If you feel that the school that you plan to attend next fall may be a participating school, then please visit the UMHEF website https://www.umhef.org/scholarships/ or google United Methodist Higher Education Scholarships, and review the approved list of schools and the UMHEF scholarship application information.
If your school is on their approved list, you will first need to submit an application for a Grace Church scholarship before December 30, 2022, so that it can be reviewed prior to the UMHEF scholarship deadline of March 1. Applications are available at the Church Office and in the Welcome Center.
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION BEFORE DECEMBER 30th
IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND A UMHEF APPROVED SCHOOL.
Arts and Crafts Showcase – Here’s a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping. Artwork and handiwork by members and regular attenders of Grace will be for sale in our Fellowship Hall from 1 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 1. Some of the items for sale will be paper crafting explosion boxes, painted, quilted, crocheted and knitted items, bookmarks, quilts, candles, woodworking, stained glass, scrubbies, dishcloths, coasters, weaving baskets, upcycled items, photos, cross-stitch, pen & ink drawings with poetry, ornaments, acrylic, watercolor and oil paintings, magnets, and more!
Additionally, there will be quilts, photographs, stained glass, and oil paintings on display for viewing pleasure. A concession stand will be available with proceeds going to support missions. Come out to support your talented friends!
A Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service will be held in Fellowship Hall on November 23rd at 7 p.m. Giving thanks is an integral component of worshipping God, and our Thanksgiving Eve service is the perfect way to prepare our hearts and minds for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season. We hope you will join us.
Food Bank Envelopes should be returned this Sunday. You may place them in the offering plate or boxes. Thank you for your support of this ministry. And a huge thank you goes out to the volunteers who faithfully work with this outreach ministry. Please note that donations to the Food Bank may be made at any time.
The 2023 Altar Flower Sign-Up Booklet is now in the Welcome Center. Requests will be honored upon $30 payment being received at the church office. Please make checks payable to Grace Church and write Altar Flowers on the memo line. Place checks the offering plate/box or mail to 712 Church St., Indiana, PA 15701.
There are still several used hymnals available for free on the table near the choir room on the second floor. Stop by to pick up a copy at your convenience.
Grace Kids Program is having a Christmas Stocking Stuffing Party in December. We need small gifts, candy and crafts to put in them and are accepting little gifts to fill them in. You may drop off donations to the baskets located in the hallway by the elevator.
THERE IS NO DINNER ON NOVEMBER 23rd
WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNERS WILL RESUME ON NOVEMBER 30th
HOLIDAY WORSHIP SERVICES – The staff and volunteers are busily preparing for the Christmas season. Please mark your calendars now for these services:
December 1 9 a.m. Music Sunday at the Traditional Service
11 a.m. Contemporary Service
December 11 New Members Class received into full membership
December 21 7:00 p.m. Longest Night Service
December 24 Christmas Eve Services:
3:00 p.m. – Contemporary Service
5:00 p.m. – Contemporary Service
7:00 p.m. – Traditional Service
9:00 p.m. – Traditional Service
December 25 10:00 a.m. – One Combined Worship Service – Children are invited to wear their pajamas
The Church Office will be closed on November 24th and 25th, so that your staff may enjoy Thanksgiving with their families. We extend our warmest and best wishes for a wonderful holiday. Please know that we are always grateful for you.
JUST FOR LAUGHS
A young girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. Every so often she would reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. Then she would touch her own cheek and then his again. There was obviously something on her mind.
“Papa,” she asked finally, “did God make you?” she asked.
“Yes, Sweetie,” her grandpa replied. “God made me a long, long time ago,”
“Did God make me, too?” she asked.
“He certainly did, honey,” her grandpa replied. “God made you just a little while ago.”
After touching his cheek and then her own again, she concluded, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t He?”
