We hope you were able to attend the lovely Cantata presented by our Christmas Choir last Sunday. If you missed it, you may find it on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb0Pb642vlc or on our Facebook page. It provides a wonderful way to begin or end your daily devotions, or to help you slow down and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas! A huge thank you goes out to Tina St. Clair, Debra Moore, and the entire Christmas Choir.
This Sunday, the Always God Series continues with Pastor Bill’s message God is Always Offering Joy. The sermon text is from Isaiah 35:1-10. The Sounds of Grace Orchestra will present special music at the 9 a.m service.
Although there isn’t a ny snow, and very little in the forecast, it is indeed beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the church and in the community. The Christmas decorations and fun activities seem to create an air of excitement and brings happiness and smiles when you’re out and about. However, for some folks, the holidays may not bring that same joy. We want to offer those folks a special time to come together.
The Winter Solstice on December 21 is also called the Longest Night because that day has the fewest hours of daylight. Our Longest Night Service is for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one—or any type of loss—and are grieving.
For them, the holidays are now different than ever before, and the pain is real. We will gather in the midst of our suffering to remember that we are not alone, and that there is reason to hold on to hope.
At this service you will have the time and space to simply be in the present moment, and then encounter the light and peace that Jesus offers to each of us.
The Outreach Committee has a Christmas Backdrop in the Welcome Center. You are invited to use it as a backdrop for a selfie or take a picture with your Grace Church friends.
What a nice surprise on Wednesday afternoon when Santa Claus himself took time from his busy schedule to visit the kids in the After School Program. He also brought smiles during a brief appearance at the Wednesday Night Dinner (because you’re never too old to enjoy a hearty Ho Ho Ho and warm greeting from St. Nick!). The After School Program is now on holiday break until January 4. If your New Year’s Resolutions include getting more involved at the church, we are always looking for folks to lend a hand with the program.
The Grace Kids Family Christmas Party will be this Friday at 6 p.m. in the Kids Wing.
GRACE YOUTH will meet this Sunday from 6:45 to 8 PM in the Grace Growth Center Youth Room (2nd floor). The doors open at 6:30.
You may memorialize or honor a loved one at Christmas with a poinsettia plant or donation. Proceeds benefit the Mission Fund. Plants may be picked up after the 9 p.m. Christmas Eve Service. Additional forms are available in the Welcome Center. The deadline to order is noon on Monday, December 12.
Get in the spirit! Carols and Cookies is back! Everyone is invited to attend an indoor caroling party on Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m. in Rooms 101 & 102 (Parlors). Women’s Fellowship will provide holiday refreshments and Dave Larko will accompany us in singing our favorite Christmas carols. Plan to join us for this fun holiday event!
The Courage and Cancer Support Group meets this Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Welcome Center. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, are a cancer survivor or a caregiver, please join us as we talk about the attitude of gratitude during this Advent season. For more information, call Pastor Kathy Mihoerck at 724-463-8535.
Divorce Care. Are you separated, divorced or going through a divorce, you may be struggling with your feelings and wondering where God is in all of this? Beginning on January 5th Grace will start a new program called Divorce Care. If you are interested, you may sign up on our website gracechurch@indianagrace.org and follow the link to DivorceCare, in the welcome center, call the church office, or email Bob Penrose at bpenrose@indianagrace.org.
Wednesday Night Dinner Menu
Baked Ham, Mashed Sweet Potatoes,
Vegetable, Roll and Dessert
Reservations are required. Please sign up in the Welcome Center or email bmcanulty@indianagrace.org
This will be the last Wednesday Night Dinner of 2022. They will resume on January 11, 2023
If you would like to help with the Love Basket, we need you! We will be packing boxes on Wednesday December 14th starting at 6;30 p.m. and distributing them on Thursday, December 15 from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. We can also use help counting and organizing all the food at 8:30 a.m. on December 13.
Grace Church will be helping more than 260 families with a Christmas Love Basket this year. What a wonderful way to show our Christmas spirit! It is always great—but no surprise—to see so many members of Grace giving their all for this outreach opportunity.
There are cards in the Welcome Center listing our holiday services. Take one—or more—to share. Christmas is a perfect time to invite family, friends, and neighbors to one of our services:
The Longest Night Service at 7 p.m. on December 21
Christmas Eve: Contemporary services will be held at 3 and 5 p.m.
Traditional Services will be held at 7 and 9 p.m.
Christmas Morning: A blended service at 10 a.m. where kids can wear their pajamas and adults can wear those ugly Christmas sweaters!
Share Jesus with others who may not know the real reason for the season!
Just for Laughs:
A seven-year-old boy was asked to say thanks for the Christmas dinner. The family bowed their heads as he began… “thank you God for Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and all my aunts and uncles”.
He then began to thank God for the food. “Thank you for the turkey, the stuffing, the Christmas pudding, and even the cranberry sauce.” Then he paused. The family waited and waited, until the boy finally asked his mother, “if I thank God for the Brussels sprouts, won’t he know that I’m lying?”
