This Sunday’s Gospel • Matthew 3: 1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke...[ continue reading ]. Weekly scriptures are from the  Revised Common Lectionary ; passages are from the  New Revised Standard Version  of the Bible.
Reception honoring Barbara Hobson-Simpson this Sunday
This Sunday (Dec. 8) we will honor our recently retired receptionist Barbara Hobson-Simpson with a reception and lots of goodies after the Lessons and Carols service. Please join us in celebrating Barbara and her family!

Opportunities to Help Families in Need at Christmas
You can help pass out information this Sunday, Dec. 8 or sponsor a child and purchase gifts. Out of town? We need volunteers to deliver the gifts after the Dec. 15 InGathering in the Parish Hall. Donations of hats and gloves for women and men for the Red Door Ministry and school supplies (colored pencils, markers, glue bottles and notebooks) for Dumbarton Elementary School are also needed. Questions? Contact Nancy Smith or Mother Kim .
Invite a Friend to Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols
This Sunday at 11:00 a.m., the music of the Grace and Holy Trinity Church Adult Choir will fill the building at 11:00 a.m. You are invited—and why not invite a friend, too? Spread the word through Facebook or Nextdoor. A reception will be held after the service in the Parish Hall.


Dec. 15 After all Three Services | Photos in the Parish Hall
Stop by the Parish Hall and have a free digital portrait made by volunteer photographer Andrew Peacock on Sunday, Dec. 15, between 8:30-11:15 a.m. These images will help us (and our new rector) get to know one another via our online member directory . We hope to have a photo of every member by February of 2020—please help us by taking a minute to be photographed before you attend worship services!
Reach out to Rams during Final Exams | Dec.10-12
Spare a half-hour to support our neighbors as they take finals. A few minutes of handing out a sweet or savory snack to VCU students will go a long way in making finals more manageable. You can offer some hospitality to strangers by handing out a little something before final exams from either the front porch or the back parking lot. So many students walk right past our building every day — we just want them to know that we are praying for them. It’s an easy way to be a good neighbor.  Sign up online and if you have any questions contact Mo. Kim.  

On the Church Calendar
Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m. | Adult Forum: Triangle of Hope (Joe Krzyston)
Dec. 8 at 11:00 a.m.| Festival of Advent Lessons & Carols
Dec. 8 at 12:15 p.m. | Reception honoring Barbara Hobson-Simpson
Dec. 15 at 10:00 a.m. | Adult Forum: Unplug the Christmas Machine (Bill Queen)
Dec. 15 at all three services | Head shot photos in the Parish Hall for the church directory
Dec. 15 at 6:00 p.m. | Foyer Dinner at the home of Cary and Mary Ann Blankenship
Dec. 22 at 10:00 a.m. | Combined Service featuring children in the Christmas Pageant
Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. | Christmas Eve Service (childcare through preK offered 4:00-6:00 p.m.; harp and flute prelude music begins at 4:00 p.m.)
Dec. 24 at 10:00 p.m. | Christmas Eve Service (harp and flute prelude music begins at 9:30 p.m.)
Dec. 25 at 10:00 a.m. | Christmas Day Service (in the chapel)
Dec. 24-26 | Church offices closed
Dec. 31-Jan.1 | Church offices closed

Tis the Season to Give Back
Our Red Door Ministry is bursting at the seams! We need your help in the parking lot before shows at the Altria to support this critical ministry's growth as well as Belize missions, CirclesRVA, and VCU campus ministries. Please contact the person listed if you can help:
Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 6:15 - nrtrego@comcast.net (Nancy Trego)
Friday, Dec. 6 at 6:45 - jodiepully@verizon.net (Jodie Pully)
Sat., Dec. 7 at 6:45 - nrtrego@comcast.net
Sun., Dec. 8 at 5:45 - jodiepully@verizon.net
Mon., Dec. 23 at 6:30 - nrtrego@comcast.net  
Thurs., Dec. 26 at 6:30 -   nrtrego@comcast.net
Fri., Dec. 27 at 6:00 -  nrtrego@comcast.net

Children’s Chapel for PreK-5th Grade
Did you know that we have a Children’s Chapel program at 8:45 a.m. in the chapel and at 11:00 a.m. in room #7? You can check out the readings for each week from our children's lectionary , and both kids and parents are invited to get involved each week . Kids are invited to start joining in around PreK age so if you have someone who goes to the nursery during worship but might benefit from this program they are welcome to join in with us. If you have any questions about getting involved just ask Aaron Davis.
Christmas Pageant Dec.22 in combined 10:00 a.m. Worship Service
Our annual Christmas Pageant is coming up fast, and we are getting the entire church family together before Christmas ! This year the pageant will be during a single, 10:00 a.m. service on Dec. 22 with a rehearsal the preceding Sunday (Dec. 15) at 10:00 a.m. Sign-ups are open here for kids and willing parents are encouraged to help out too (though no dressing up required for adults, unless they really want to). Please reach out to our pageant director, Nick Sollog, with any questions. 

Year-End Gift Deadlines Approaching
Have you considered making a year-end gift to GHTC? Some people pay their annual pledge (or make an additional gift) through appreciated stock or other investments. The church’s brokerage is Davenport & Co. To plan ahead and learn more , contact either Barb Dodd or Judy Bowman at 804.359.5628.
Advent Podcasts by VCU Students
Recently, the Episcopal Campus Ministry at Virginia Commonwealth University created a series of podcasts for Advent. These recordings are unscripted and feature both scripture and children’s stories. Click here to listen. Thanks to Mo.Kim for her assistance!

Foyer Dinner | Dec. 15 at 6:00 p.m.
Please join us for a Christmas gathering at the home of Mary Ann and Cary Blankenship with pulled pork and pulled beef. Please contact Lu Treadwell at 804-269-5675 if you are coming and what you plan to bring. All are welcome—it’s a great way to get to know other church members in a smaller setting.

Surveys, Focus Groups and More
The Discernment Committee seeks to gather information from all parts of the Grace and Holy Trinity Church family, including youth, parents, students, seniors and members throughout the church! Look for emails in the coming months to secure your opinions and solicit information key to the search for a new Rector. If you are not a tech-savvy computer user, paper copies will also be available of these communiques, although parishioners are encouraged to provide a current email and cell phone number to update church records.
Learn more about the Discernment Committee online at the church website.

Vestry Elections Upcoming
Grace and Holy Trinity Church will elect five new members to the Vestry for three-year terms at the Annual Meeting on February 2, 2020. The Nominating Committee (the retiring Vestry Class of 2020) is asking that all members of the church share the names of those who might be qualified and interested. Please click this link to learn about what is required to be a Vestry member. It is essential that any nominee meets these requirements and has agreed to have their name put forward. You can talk with any member of the Nominating Committee to propose a name–yourself or others. The Vestry has decided that, unlike the past several years, the slate for this election will present more names than the five positions to be filled.