E-Blast for Nov 24, 2021

Sunday, December 5, 2021

The Second Sunday of Advent

The Feast of Nicholas of Myra

A visit from Nicholas, Bishop of Myra - 10:00 a.m.

Celebration of Life

Sandra S. Sankey

An in-person Celebration of Life will be held at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 10:00 am at which masks and social distancing will be required. The service will also be live-streamed as

tinyurl.com/gspvirtual.

Flower Donations for Christmas

Envelopes will be in the bulletins on Dec. 5th & 12th. The suggested donation is $10 - $25.

If you make your donation online, please send your Dedication (in Memory of OR in Honor of) to Jane Thrall, tucsonjane@aol.com

Our Protocols for Live, In-Person Services

Both Sunday services at Grace St. Paul’s — 7:45 and 10 a.m. — are live and in-person. The 10 a.m. service will also continue to be live-streamed.

To ensure the safety of all present, all congregants must wear a mask, properly worn over nose and mouth. Congregational singing is now allowed with masks on.

Parents, please note. The nursery is staffed every Sunday in the Undercroft for the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Kids can be dropped off as early as 9:40 a.m. Nursery is for infants-age 3. Kids are welcome to enjoy church with their families in the Sanctuary.

New to GSP?

Have you recently discovered Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church? Would you like to know more about our beloved community? Please fill out our Visitor Card at www.tinyurl.com/gspvisitor

Live Stream Instructions - Please click here.
Altar Flowers - Please click here to find out how to request flowers.
GSP has a YouTube channel! - Please click here for more info.
How to Support Immigrants - Please click here.
Just Coffee - Please click here

LIVESTREAMING CHURCH on SUNDAY, 10 A.M.

Bulletins: GSPtucson.org/bulletins

Livestream the Sunday 10:00 AM service on Facebook: www.TinyURL.com/GSPVirtual

High quality video of Sunday Worship, available Sunday about 7 p.m. www.tinyurl.com/gspvids

*Please wear name tags so folks can recognize you in your mask.*

Don't have a name tag?

Call the office, 327-6857,

or email

ParishAdmin@Grace-StPauls.org.

If you requested a name tag,

please check with an usher

on Sunday morning.

Sunday Offering

Please remember, we do not take the offering during the worship services. You can drop your offerings in the box in the narthex.

You may also make your donations by U.S. mail or via the EasyTithe online portal.

Thank you for your continued support of Grace St Paul’s. We are able to make a difference in the world because of your support & generosity.

If you are using gmail to view the E-Blast, please make sure you are seeing the entire document. Flyers & our Zoom Schedule are at the end of the document. gmail may only show the top part of the document. There should be a link to See More.

If anyone else has problems seeing the entire document, please let Pam know in the church office. Thank you.

Bath Towels - Winter Coats - Blankets

Needed for Joseph's Pantry

Please drop off donations on Sunday or during the week, M-Th 9a-4p, F 9a-noon

Thank you for your support of Joseph's Pantry.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Youth Group Diaper Drive! We collected 700 diapers and dropped them off to very grateful volunteers at the Southern Arizona Diaper Bank! Your support of this mission is greatly appreciated.

It's Vestry nominations time!!!

It is that time of year when we wait in hopeful anticipation for....you guessed it, Vestry nominations for next year. And we are on a very tight time-frame this year.

We are electing three Vestry members this year. If you are interested in running, or believe you know someone who might be a good candidate, please contact a member of the committee or call the church office at 520-327-6857. Thank you for prayerfully considering this important ministry for yourself and/or someone else.

The minimum requirements to be considered for a nomination include: 3 times a communicant in good standing this year, and is a "giver of record" at Grace St. Paul's. For the actual wording, please contact the church office.

Acceptance of nominations will be closed on December 15, 2021. Nominations will be announced no later than the first of the year. We are hoping to make our announcement by the last Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021.

Your Vestry nominating committee consists of Kim Braun, Harlan Hoken, Donna Johnson, Rev. Chris Ledyard (chair), and Rita Magdeleno.

The committee will be meeting over the next few weeks to choose a slate to run for Vestry at our Annual meeting on January 30, 2022.

VIRTUAL ADULT EDUCATION

The Advent Season, which begins the Christian calendar, is a time of waiting and preparation, anticipating Christ’s coming from three different perspectives: His birth in Bethlehem, His reception in believers' hearts, and His Second Coming. Dr. Chuck Dickson's latest presentation examines the Second Coming: https://www.gsptucson.org/parish/virtualAdultEd.php

Modest Tax Savings for Church Donations

If you do not itemize deductions for federal and state income tax returns, you can still claim a modest income tax savings for your contribution to Grace St. Paul’s. Federal taxes permit up to a $600 deduction from taxable income for joint returns (up to $300 for single filing status) for 2021. Arizona permits a 25% deduction from taxable income for church donations or other charitable donation not qualifying for the various tax credits.

Consult with your tax adviser for details.

Wil Harri, Treasurer

"Holiday Tales"

First Friday Play Reading on December 3

The GSP Spirit Players will close out the Zoom play readings for 2021 by hosting the December First Friday Play Reading via a virtual gathering on December 3 at 7 p.m. The theme for the short plays to be read is "Holiday Tales".

People who wish to participate as readers on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. should RSVP to Nanalee Raphael (contact information is in the Parish Directory) by midnight Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Please click here for more information.

Join GSP's Anti-Racism Study Group

Next meeting will be Dec. 22

4th Wednesday — 4:30-5:30 p.m.

In response to GSP's vision of social justice, the church's “anti-racism to ally” group has been endeavoring to live into its vision through focusing on social justice. The group has focused on writings regarding racism and white privilege, and aims to "move from anti-racism to ally."

To be put on the list to receive materials, to get zoom information on our monthly zoom meeting, or if you have any questions, please contact Rev. Chris, Jill McCollum, Barbara Morehouse, or Peggy Scott through the church office, 520-327-6857.

MIGRANT JUSTICE

Migrant Monday!

The GSP Migrant Ministry will meet in-person on Monday, Dec 13, 4:00-5:00, in McBride Hall, to fill snack packs for Migrant travelers. We do appreciate all who have helped in the past and hope to see Many of you then. Newcomers are always welcomed!

Our packs give them nourishment during their long trips. No soup or other food is needed. Please join us! Many hands make light work.

For more information, please call Margie at 310-903-0280 or email her at mmarjorieking@gmail.com.

A Prayer Vigil is held every first and third Monday (Dec 6 & Dec 20), 4:30-5:30 p.m. for migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and those threatened with deportation.

Prayers may be offered in Spanish and English.

All are welcome.

Please join us on Zoom:

zoom.us/j/336535932

Artisans Beyond Borders, (ABB) a bi-national ministry at Grace St. Paul’s, began in 2019 as a way to bring trauma-informed arts and activities to asylum-seekers and their families waiting in shelters and on the streets in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.

Today, in the shadow of politics and pandemic, therapeutic arts and the dignity of artisanal craft continue to bring comfort to the traumatized and hope to asylum-seekers. Bordando Esperanza / Embroidering Hope, the flagship program, also helps restore personal agency and income through Etsy shop sales of artisans’ original hand-embroideries.

For more information, please visit the ABB website:

artisansbeyondborders.org/

Casa Alitas Welcome Center

Thank you to our volunteers & supporters! Please spread the word about our work & recruiting friends, family, & colleagues for volunteering. All of our teams could use the help!

Please click here for more updates on Volunteering, Donations, & Job Openings!

Donations Currently Needed:

For men: new underwear, socks, T-shirts, baseball caps, athletic pants (especially smaller sizes), shoes
For women: new underwear, bras, new men's underwear, lycra/stretch leggings, socks
For children: clothing sizes 2-12, new underwear, shoes
Backpacks