Grace: It's Our Way of Life
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As Episcopal Christians we
Worship at home daily and together weekly;
Study the scriptures, our tradition, and what it means to be a disciple today;
Serve our families, our parish, and our world in the name of Christ. Everything we do is done with an ethic of
Welcome because we are only here by Grace.
Where have you welcomed, worshiped, studied or served?
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Christmas Memories, Generations of Faithfulness
by James Deaton
The Christmas pageant has been a fixture of the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service for many years. The tradition began sometime after Ellen Brigman joined Grace. She and her husband, Roy, came to Traverse City in 1947 with their daughters, Kathy and Mary Ellen. Ellen immediately became very involved with Sunday school, and went on to direct the primary grades for twenty years.
During her tenure, Ellen used her creative gifts in a variety of ways, including the direction of children's Christmas programs. She wrote the script for a play entitled, "In Bethlehem Town," and enlisted the help of her mother, Agnes Ewing, to create wonderful costumes.
In 1980, Bill Foster and Kay Rickard led the fifth and six graders in a new production of "In Bethlehem Town." By this time, both Brigman daughters were married, and Kathy's son, Mike, became the next generation to participate in  Grace's Christmas pageant tradition. Mike followed the script his grandmother had written back in the 1950s while donning the shepherd costume his great-grandmother, Agnes, had lovingly sewn for the original production.
Let's fast-forward to the present. Kathy Woods has been one of several women here at Grace who are committed to preserving our history, working to archive all our historical documents and photos. Recently, Kathy was looking in her son's scrapbook and stumbled across the bulletin from that 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service back in 1980. She was surprised and thrilled to note that the role of the innkeeper had been played by Denise Reidlinger, who later became Mike's wife! Mike and Denise were married at Grace in 1992, and recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. Their sons, Logan and Tanner, complete five generations here at Grace. What a wonderful testimony of God's faithfulness!
We're grateful that many of the participants in the 1980 cast for "In Bethlehem Town," including the teachers, have remained rooted in our Grace church family. Read their names and see which ones you know and remember. Give thanks to God for their lives, and for those who continue these beloved traditions of Christmas while reshaping them for the future. We may use a different script now, or new costumes, but the message of Christmas is still the same. Seeds of faith are being planted now that will sprout in time and grow to full maturity. These are generations of faithfulness, thanks be to God.
Christmas Message from Kathryn
Merry Christmas! Yes, it is still Christmas. In the Episcopal Church we celebrate the Christmas season until Epiphany arrives which is January 6th. I like to take the 12 days of Christmas and focus on family and friends. This is when I write my Christmas cards, make phone calls, and do some baking. While others have started their diets from way too many Christmas sweets, I may be confounding their plans by bringing Christmas treats!!
I recently watched Presiding Bishop Michael's Christmas message and he refers to a poem which I pull up every Christmas. It speaks to the work of Christmas. We often forget that it is not only about celebrating the Incarnation. Rather, we are called to live the Incarnation and we do that in many ways. I like what Howard Thurman has to say about The Work of Christmas in this poem he wrote.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
As we move from Christmas season to the season of Epiphany, take the time to live into this poem. And, join us for our Epiphany Celebration, Saturday evening, January 6 at 5:00. We will celebrate through an intergenerational play with Eucharist followed by a potluck dinner, the Epiphany Cake, and a game night.
So, bring your favorite foods, and your favorite games.
Fun for all ages!!
Blessings,
Kathryn+
Services this weekend
Sat., Dec. 30 5pm
Service of Lessons and Carols with Eucharist
Sun., Dec. 31 8am
Morning Prayer (NO Eucharist)
Sun., Dec. 31, 10am
Service of Lessons and Carols with Eucharist
Holiday Closures next week
Mon., Jan. 1
Office, Food Pantry, Jubilee House CLOSED
Candidates for Election at Annual Meeting 2018
The slate of candidates for elections at the 2018 Annual Meeting has been assembled. In anticipation of the
January 21, 2018 Annual Meeting, parishioners can find biographies of each candidate posted on the website,
click here to download the document from our website.
A special election email with the candidate information has been sent - please check your in-box. You may also pick up a paper copy in the Commons.
The candidates are:
Vestry: Elizabeth Black, Barb Dancer, Kelly Ignace, Glen MacPherson
Delegates to the Convention: Elizabeth Blondia, Greg Hagan, Mike Hanson, Tony Nelson, George Prewitt
Nominating Committee: Jill Polmateer, Rick Taylor
Absentee ballots are available in the office.
Thank you to all the people from the pews that have volunteered to help with the "business" of the parish in the coming year or term of the vestry.
Snow Policy 2017-2018
With the coming forecasts predicting snow storms of significant means, Grace Church parishioners should be aware of the following:
- Worship services - will not be cancelled. The proximity of The Rev. Kathryn Costas ' home (next door to the church) makes it possible for her to open the building for worship
- Office hours - The staff will follow the closing/delay schedule of the local college (NMC); when the college delays or closes during business hours, so will the Grace Church office. As soon as possible, a recorded phone message will indicate the situation
- Food Pantry - If the office closes on a Monday or Friday morning and therefore pantry appointments can't be taken, then the Food Pantry is closed as well.
- Jubilee House - Will be open. Contact Glenda Andrews to confirm or indicate your absence as a volunteer scheduled for the day.
- Friday Lunch - contact the leader of your lunch team to confirm or indicate your absence as a volunteer scheduled for the day.
- Events/ministry meetings/other gatherings - contact the leader of the group to find out if the event or meeting is occurring; be sure to make a note of the leader's contact information.
Group leaders - Now is a good time to forward contact information to the participants of your group.
Know that your sense of personal safety is paramount when making a decision to travel to church (or not).
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CROP Walk Earnings Received
The 2017 CROP Hunger Walk resulted in a deposit for the pantry of $513.24. This will provide more than half a month's order of food for the pantry shelves. Thank you to all the walkers, donors and co-chairs, Helen Hankins and Sue Kelly. Your commitment and compassion help to alleviate hunger in our community.
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Cookie Walk nets more than 2K - we are BLESSED!
A huge thank-you to all those who made our annual cookie fundraiser a success this year! So many of you baked, donated funds, showed up to work the event and cookie  intake take, decorated the parish hall, and helped clean up. Your efforts helped us to raise $2059 towards the new commercial dishwasher for the kitchen. Thank you just doesn't seem adequate. We appreciate the support from our parish family. See you next year!!
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Annual Reports Due - Please submit now
As we close in on the end of 2017, it's time to reflect and write annual reports. If you are the leader/participant of a ministry that wishes to be included in this compilation, reports should be submitted to the office, [email protected]. Electronic submissions are preferred. The annual report will be ready for distribution on or before the 151st Annual Meeting scheduled for January 21, 2018. Pertinent materials for the elections or discussions to be held at the annual meeting will be distributed prior to the meeting. The value of these reports became significantly important as the members of the 150th Anniversary Celebration Committee worked these past few months. Members sifted through all the reports we had from past decades to search for details, events and dates that informed us of our story as a congregation. With this in mind we recommend the following guidelines as you write your annual report:
- Include full names of participants, names of officers/leaders
- Tell stories/give descriptions of events, especially if an effort was new or special
- State dates of occasions or events or ministry work that should be known
- Add statistics, if important
- Describe any particular gift (monetary or tangible) to the church
Writing this kind of summary will help tell the story of your ministry.
Use your IRA assets for charitable gifts before the year ends
The IRA charitable rollover law was made permanent in 2015. Under this legislation, if you are 70 ½ or older, you are allowed to make certain charitable contributions directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to an eligible charity, and the transferred assets will not be recognized as income for tax purposes. Talk with your tax adviser! The charitable IRA rollover, or qualified charitable distribution, makes it easier for you to use your IRA assets to make charitable gifts. It is a special provision that allows individuals age 70 ½ or older to exclude from taxable income - and count toward their required minimum distribution - transfers of IRA assets, up to a total of $100,000, that are made directly to public charities, such as your parish or favorite Episcopal charity. To take advantage for 2017, donors need to arrange for a direct transfer from their IRA to an eligible charity to take place by December 31, 2017.
Year-end contributions
There are several ways to make contributions to Grace Church to complete your pledge and, take advantage of tax deductions (if appropriate) by December 31:
- Submit contributions to any service in December
- Mail your contribution with a December 31 postmark
- Drop off contributions in the office before December 29 when staff is present
- Use our DONATE button on the website www.gracetc.org until 11:59pm 12/31/17
Altar Flower donation schedule for 2018
A new schedule for Altar Flower donations is on the sign-up board at the East End of the Parish Hall. All flower arrangements for the Altar will be done by our florist. Sign-up is on a first-come first-served basis. Include your name and phone number in the appropriate boxes. If more than one family desires the same date, we can provide flowers in front of the Altar as well. Or if two families wish to share a date, that can be accommodated, as well. There will be no Altar flowers in observance of Lent and during Advent. Christmas and Easter flowers are by special donations with an insert in the bulletin listing donors and their message. During Advent, greens are added the four weeks before Christmas. You can donate to sponsor the greens during this time. We ask for a donation of $45.00 or more to cover the florist and delivery costs. Please have your message for the bulletin in to the office the Monday before your selected date. If you need assistance please call Pat Freeman at 932-9851. Thank you!
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Celebrate Epiphany Sat., Jan. 6 at 5pm
Epiphany Service with Magi play, followed by potluck and game night. We need intergenerational players - please volunteer by calling Penny at 946-1224.
Bring your favorite food and games and there will be a festive Epiphany cake!
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Regular Weekly Worship Schedule
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Monday
NO Women's Prayer Circle Jan. 1st
Tuesday
Morning Prayer 8:15 am
Wednesday
Men's Prayer Group 7:30 am
Holy Eucharist 10 am
Centering Prayer 11 am
Thursday
Evening Prayer 6 pm
Saturday
Holy Eucharist 5 pm
Sunday
Holy Eucharist 8 am
Holy Eucharist 10 am
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Lectionary Readings
& Daily Prayer
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This Weekend's Readings
Service of Lessons and Carols
Genesis 3:1-15
Isaiah 7:10-15
Luke 1:5-25
Luke 1: 26-58
Luke 1:57-80
Luke 2:1-20
Luke 2: 21-36
John 1:1-18
Next Weekend's Readings
The First Sunday after The Epiphany
Genesis 1:1-5
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11
Psalm 29
The Daily Office
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Birthdays
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Ann Emenheiser
Susan Wiberg
Glenda Andrews
Catherine Collins
Beth Still
Brooke Still
Happy Anniversary
Bastian & Vivian Trimpe
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Prayer Lists
Did you know Grace has 2 prayer lists?
* To be added to the prayer list found in the bulletin contact
** If you would like to be added to the Daughters of the King (DOK) prayer list and be prayed for daily,contact Penny Campo-Pierce at 231-946-1224 or [email protected]
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Contact Us
341 Washington St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone 947-2330;
Fax 947-3011
Website
www.gracetc.org
For Pastoral Emergencies
Call the church office 231-947-2330
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Staff Contact Information
Clergy:
Office:
Parish Administrator:
Administrative Assistant & Outreach Coordinator:
Music:
Music & Worship Director:
Children's Ministry:
Director of Children and Youth Formation:
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What's Happening at Grace?
What's Happening in our Diocese?
Turn in your Oleson's receipts to benefit the Grace Food Pantry!
Oleson's Community Share Program
Here's how it works:
- You shop at Oleson's for groceries (liquor sales do not qualify for points)
- Turn in your receipts to the church. Look for the envelope on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall, and place your receipts inside it.
- We submit receipts back to Oleson's
- We are granted cash rewards for the food pantry ($1 spent on groceries = 1 cent in Community Share points)
For every $5000 in receipts we submit, we receive $50 in cash for our food pantry. Every little bit helps!
Thank you for participating!
Click here to learn more...
Buy from Amazon?
Help Grace Church!
Did you know Grace Church is part of the Amazon Smile program? We ask you to consider supporting Grace Church through this program. It doesn't take more than a minute to register, then eligible purchases will benefit Grace Church.
Follow this link to learn more...
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