Dec 8, 2023

Dear Grace Commons Family,

Thanksgiving was the first holiday the Ceder family celebrated here, and there were several opportunities to show Colorado to our visiting families. We are steadily making ourselves at home in our new state. 

As I settle in on the Grace Commons staff, I am pleased to report that I am blown away by the talent, humility, unity and overall connection of our team. I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time connecting with one staff member at a time and am excited by who God has assembled to serve with us. 

The fall Journey with Jesus series came to a close Thanksgiving weekend. Thank you to the team of communicators and worship planners for helping lead us through spiritual practices and disciplines. Our staff was quite moved that just under 400 names were turned in for prayer at the end of our worship time that Sunday. We are praying for the Holy Spirit to touch those individual lives this holiday season and beyond. 

Call to Prayer

Please continue to pray for God to answer our prayer to fulfill and exceed our financial needs this year. If you have missed our call to prayer you can listen to my charge which I shared at the end of worship on Nov 19.

We are earnestly and specifically praying for God to help us collect $900,000 in additional tithes and gifts from November 9 to December 31, 2023, which will result in collecting $2 million total for the year. So far we have seen God bring in 24% of this goal as $214,784 has come in towards the $900,000. 

Remember this is primarily a prayer initiative. God knows who the givers are, and we want to pray for him to raise these means in his own way. The theme of my prayer time has been Zechariah 4:6, "‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." 

The focus of this effort is to meet and then exceed our budget in order to allow the opportunity to provide additional support for our Student Ministry. Please join us in praying for God to show us what can happen when his people call upon his name. 

Immediately following worship this Sunday our elders and trustees will present an update on our church finances. If you are interested, we hope you will remain in the Sanctuary or online to learn more.

Using our time & talents

In addition to how we invest financially, we have seen many in our midst investing their time and talents. Here are just a few ways we have served our community and each other this fall:

Special project

For Darin Williams’ Eagle Scout project, he, scout friends, Grace Commons Garden Team and Native Edge Landscape worked to remove the crumbling planter from the courtyard.

Sewing Circle

The Sewing Circle raised over $5,000 during their Fall Bazaar at the end of October. To date they have donated $3,500 of that amount to local missions that benefit mothers and children and to overseas missionaries. They are still in the process of deciding which organizations to donate the remainder of these funds.

Thanksgiving meals for Columbine families

Our congregation donated items needed for 40 tamale meals. At the same time our Student Ministry collected items for 10 traditional meals. Anita Teague, our Kids Hope USA Director, and her mentor team delivered the meals on the final days of school before Thanksgiving break.

Adopt-a-Family Christmas efforts (in partnership with Serve 6.8)

This Sunday, December 10, our Local Missions team will be hosting 105 families for a Christmas party and gift distribution time. We are still collecting gifts through December 17 at the Giving Tree in the Parlor. Local Missions set up 15 other Giving Trees all over the county where gifts can be donated as well.

Christmas

As we reflect on the hope, peace, joy and love we have in Christ, please join us and invite your friends and neighbors to worship during Advent and Christmas Eve and to enjoy our annual Glory of Christmas Concerts.

I love you all. I am so grateful for the meals brought to our home, emails of encouragement and the loving welcomes we have received. We are humbled by this calling and grateful to call you our new church family. 

Merry Christmas! 

Pastor Anthony

1820 15^th St, Boulder, CO 80302 | 303.402.6400

Office Hours: M–Th, 8:30–noon

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