Advent: A New Year
by The Rev. Kathryn Costas

Advent begins this weekend.  What is Advent?  It is the first season of the Church Year.  A time to begin, to start anew.  A time to reflect on the past year at Grace and to offer gratitude for all that has been and a time to look forward and prepare for this new year. We move from using green as the color for vestments and church hangings to advent blue.
 
You will see the Advent Wreath up front which we will light at every service, a new candle being lit with each new Sunday.  The center candle, the Christ Candle, is lit on click here to continue reading...
 




Grace will host Safe Harbor January 5 - 12
Sign-ups and training offered after the 10 am Eucharist Sunday, Dec. 2
Join Donna Olendorf in the Sanctuary after Sunday's 10am service to receive the needed training for Safe Harbor volunteers.
click here to read Donna's full article.





Youth Group Christmas Wreath Sale!
Our Grace Youth Group is selling Christmas wreaths after all services this weekend. Don't miss your chance to support our youth and add a lovely fresh wreath to your Christmas decorations! The wreaths from Barker Creek are 20 inches in diameter with a velvet red bow, pine cones and red holly berries. The cost is $30 per wreath. Proceeds will benefit Grace Episcopal Church Youth Group projects. The last day to order wreaths will be after the 10am service on December 2. You must pay for your wreath at the time of your order. Distribution will be the weekend of Dec. 8 and 9. Thank you for supporting our youth!




Kid's Baking Day Sat., Dec 8 at 9am
All kids (and kids at heart) are invited to join us on Sat., Dec. 8 to bake and decorate cookies for the Cookie Walk. We will serve pizza at noon. Sign-ups are upstairs in the Church School area. All children under age 12 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Join the fun!!






Boot Drive for Jubilee House
  After speaking with the Jubilee House, the youth group has discovered a need for new or slightly used adult sized boots. There will be a collection box in the Commons for you to place the boots. We will also collect hats and gloves. Let's fill up that box and help keep our sisters and brothers warm. If you have any questions, ask a youth group member.
              




DOK Prayer Request Cards
You may be wondering why a prayer request card was inside your bulleting this weekend. The Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK) is an intercessory prayer order for women and girls in the Episcopal Church (and churches in communion with it). We pray daily and welcome your prayer requests. Our list is confidential and is NOT shared. Using the prayer request cards is an easy way to let us know that you or a loved one needs prayer. Drop the completed card in our prayer box located on the ramp to the parish hall. You may also ask any Daughter for prayer - you will know us by the cross we wear.  Look for us in the Commons after each service for more information.





CHARITABLE DONATIONS STILL POSSIBLE
Charitable donations are still deductible, so long as you itemize your deductions, which fewer taxpayers are expected to do because the standard deduction has increased from $6,350 to $12,000 for a single filer and from $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples filing jointly. There remain ways to preserve the itemize benefit if you're near the threshold for itemized deductions. One approach is to concentrate your giving into a single year by paying forward your pledge amount or donations for 2019 in the 2018 tax year. Remember, all prepaid donations need to be accounted for by December 31, 2018. You still have the standard deductions up to $24,000 in 2019, and by looking at this as an whole, it can reduce your federal tax obligation for 2018 while supporting Grace Episcopal Church for the coming year.





Christmas Flower Donations Welcome
This is an excellent way to remember loved ones or give thanks for the many blessings which you have received.  We use these donations to cover the cost of flowers and greenery used in decorating the church for Christmas services. Please place your donation in the envelope provided (Christmas Flowers on the memo line of your check) and place it in the plate during a service, or drop at the office. All donations are due by Dec. 17. Your dedication will be listed in the service bulletins for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. 



Worship Participants this weekend

Sat. 5pm
Connie Riopelle, Eucharistic Minister
Chuch Thiel, Lector

Sun. 8am
Marcia Lee, Eucharistic Minister
Steve Wade, Lector
Karla Herbold, Usher

Sun 10am
John Strickler, Tim Sinclair, Dixie Stephen,  Eucharistic Ministers
Penny Campo-Pierce, Jeff Wescott, Lectors
Chuck Wolterink, Intercessor
Barb Backus, Joyce Rouse, Ushers
Dan & Sue Bush, Welcomer



For the month ending Oct. 31, 2018
Total Operating Income:  $30,374
Total Operating Expenses:  $37,308
Mortgage Balance:  $298,094
  


 

Advent Quiet Morning
Sat., Dec. 1 - 11a to 12:15p 

The Centering Prayer Community invites you to a time of silence, prayer and simple song to celebrate the season of Advent. Sometimes in the busyness and noise leading up to Christmas we overlook the quiet time of Advent. During this time of shortened days and darkness, it is good to reflect on the quiet that we need in our lives to renew our hearts and souls for welcoming Christ-God among us!
 
We who sit in silence, invite you to journey inward to renew the spirit of light that resides in your heart and soul. There will be periods of silence, prayers to celebrate the Advent season and an Advent Gospel reading with a short meditation.  Grace Harmony will lead Taize singing throughout the morning, adding to the peacefulness of this quiet service. Join us to celebrate the renewal of the light within and prepare anew for the joy of sharing the light of Christ with the world.
 



Manitou Winds Concert Dec. 1 at Grace at 7:30pm
Please plan to attend this annual winter concert, with FREE admission - all are welcome! A freewill offering will be collected to benefit Grace's Community Meal ministry. Emily Curtin Culler will join the ensemble as guest vocalist. Manitou Winds draws from traditional carols, folk and pop music, and original compositions to present a brand new program each December. Now in its fourth year, Winter Songs & Carols intertwines music and spoken word to create a peaceful, introspective glimpse of winter and seasonal beauty sure to warm the heart.




Safe Harbor Volunteer Training 
after church on Dec. 2
If you are a Safe Harbor volunteer or even if you just want to learn more about this ministry, join Donna Olendorf in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 2, after the 10 a.m. service. She will explain volunteer jobs and show you how to sign up online. Even if you have volunteered before, you need to attend to find out about new procedures-including the addition of professional staffing for all the hours that the shelter is open. This means that Goodwill staff will be onsite all night and in the morning. If you are unable to attend but still want to volunteer, please contact Donna at dolendor@gmail.com (586.781.3260). There will also be training for Grace volunteers at the shelter at 3:30 p.m. on January 5, the day our shift begins.


Get out your needles and yarn Dec. 6 at 10:30am
Looking for a group where you can bring your projects-knit, crochet, cross-stitch, needlepoint, and more-get to know others, perhaps get some project help, and just plain enjoy some guilt-free project time? Some place you could drop in every week or when you can? Please join the former Prayer Shawl Group on Thursday, December 6, 10:30 to noon, Parish Hall, to discuss expanding and changing the mission and scope of the group. This will be a one-time meeting where we will work together to determine when to meet, how often, where, and other stuff about the group. Whatever we decide will begin in January. Bring your projects, of course. Contact Sandy Seppala Gyr-703-597-7925 or click here to email Sandy if you plan to attend or if you can't but are interested in being on the list (or just show up). Your ideas are welcome.




Cookie Walk Dec. 15 - are you ready?
Bakers, please deliver your labeled cookies on Fri., Dec. 14 to the Commons, between 8:30 and 11:00am.  We are still seeking volunteers for Friday morning and afternoon shifts, as well as helpers on the day of the Cookie Walk.  Please contact Nan at 517-242-3452. or Ellen in the office if you can help.  Proceeds from this year's event will go toward the purchase of a new commercial dishwasher for our kitchen (to replace the 40+ year old machine).





LOVE, Inc. announces 
Christmas Adopt-A-Family program
Love INC is again reaching out in our community with our Adopt A Family Christmas Program. We need your help! Please consider adopting a family for Christmas. Be the hands and feet of Christ that brings a smile to a child's face and joy to a parent's heart. Call the Love INC office at 231-941-5683 or email Tony at tonyn@loveinctraverse.org and express your desire to participate in this program. 
Thank you and God Bless.

  
Weekly Worship Schedule
Tuesday
Morning Prayer 8:15 am
Wednesday 
Men's Prayer Group 7:30 am
Holy Eucharist 10 am
Centering Prayer 11:00 am
Contemplative Eucharist 6:30 pm
Saturday
Holy Eucharist 5 pm
Sunday
Holy Eucharist 8 am
Holy Eucharist 10 am 


Lectionary Readings
& Daily Prayer


  
    This Weekend's Readings
The First Sunday of Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
Psalm 25:1-9
open bible  
Next Weekend's Readings
Second Sunday of Advent

Baruch 5:1-9
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
Canticle 16

      
  The Lectionary Readings

The Daily Office


Birthdays
 Rhys Bliss
Anne Bosch
Cole Harding
Trey Harding
Sue Brightheart
Brynn Still
Barbara VanderZouwen
Charlie Plum
Jeffrey Wescott

Anniversaries
wedding-rings.jpg
Don & Laura Oldenburg

 
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  pcampopierce@charter.net

                   Contact Us 
341 Washington St.,
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone 947-2330;  Fax 947-3011
Website www.gracetc.org

For Pastoral Emergencies
The Rev. Kathryn Costas
828-273-2296

   Staff Contact Information

What's Happening at Grace?



What's Happening in our Diocese?


Diocesan website


What's Happening in the National Church?



National Church website


Turn in your Oleson's receipts to benefit the Grace Food Pantry!



Oleson's Community Share Program

Here's how it works:
  1. You shop at Oleson's for groceries (liquor sales do not qualify for points)
  2. 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.
  3. We submit receipts back to Oleson's
  4. 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... 

 



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