This Sunday’s Gospel • Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been...[ continue reading ]. Weekly scriptures are from the  Revised Common Lectionary ; passages are from the  New Revised Standard Version  of the Bible.
One combined service this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Be sure to come early for breakfast (beginning at 9:00 a.m.) this Sunday. The children of Grace and Holy Trinity will be presenting the annual story of our Lord's birth during the 10:00 a.m. service, which features the annual Christmas Pageant. After the service there will be a reception so please join us!

Poinsettia Deliveries on December 22
In order to deliver poinsettias to our homebound parishioners before Christmas, when they can most be enjoyed, the plants will be available for pickup in the parish hall this Sunday, December 22, the day of our combined 10:00 a.m. service and Christmas Pageant. Each poinsettia will have a card with the recipient’s name and address. Please consider taking one or more to anyone you know or who lives near you. Help spread our Christmas joy and demonstrate to those who cannot be with us that they are still very much in our minds and hearts.

Advent Podcasts Available Online
In addition to our weekly sermons you can hear VCU students who created podcasts for the Advent season. As we wait it’s good to take time and click here to listen.
Christmas Pageant this Sunday at 10:00 a.m., Dress Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m.
Our annual Christmas Pageant is almost here and we are looking forward to getting to whole parish family together in one service at 10:00 a.m. Dec. 22 to experience the story of our Lord’s birth. All cast members should arrive at 9:00 a.m. for dress rehearsal so everyone can be ready to go at 10:00 a.m. Questions? Just reach out to our pageant director, Nick Sollog .
 
Can You Help our Littlest Parishioners?
We are currently putting together a team of parishioners who would be willing to be “on call” during one service on one Sunday a month to provide some extra help to our nursery staff if needed. Our nursery is always professionally staffed but as we have seen some increases in nursery attendance sometimes an extra set of helping eyes or hands can go a long way. Volunteering to be a backup sub for the nursery is easy and can be done in less than a minute through this link .
 
Last Park & Playground Meetup of the Year Dec. 28
We have one more Park & Playground meetup for kids and parents coming up just after Christmas from 9:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. at the Children’s Museum of Richmond . Nick Sollog is the organizer for these events and can bring coffee and doughnuts for folks, so please RSVP here !

Coming Up
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 (no childcare for this service; harp and flute prelude music begins at 9:30 p.m.)
Dec. 25 at 10:00 a.m. | Christmas Day Service (no childcare for this service; in the chapel)
Dec. 24-26 | Church offices closed
Dec. 28 | Park & Playground Meetup for children and parents (contact Nick Sollog )
Dec. 29 | Paul Evans preaching (all three services)
Dec. 31-Jan.1 | Church offices closed

Help Supplement our Ministries by Selling Parking Spaces
It's your last chance to help out for about an hour to supplement our budgeted funds for Red Door Ministries! Call or text (804-306-9204) if you can help Nancy Trego :
Mon., Dec. 23 at 6:15 p.m. & Thurs., Dec. 26 at 6:15 p.m. & Fri., Dec. 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Legacy Gifts
Over the holidays, when families gather together, people often talk about the past and the future. If you would like to know more about planned giving, or to set up a legacy gift to Grace and Holy Trinity through a trust or your will, learn more online. Questions? Contact Barb Dodd at 804.359.5628 ext. 16.

Christmas Services at 4:30 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. on Dec.24 + 10:00 a.m. Dec. 25
Be sure to mark your calendar to attend our convenient worship services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both the 4:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Christmas Eve services will feature harp and flute prelude music beginning a half hour before the service. Childcare will be offered through preK from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day service (in the chapel) will include a special blessing of the gifts by The Rev. Bill Queen, so bring a gift you have received and celebrate Christ's birth on December 25!

From the Discernment Committee
The Discernment Committee has begun their work to find a new rector. As part of this, they will be sending a survey to hear your thoughts. The survey will be coming out in early January and we hope to hear from everyone, including those who participated in Bill Queen’s interim meetings. Enjoy your holidays, and look for the survey in early January.