Contact David Stanislawski at David.Stanislawski@chattanoogastate.edu with any questions.

https://support.breezechms.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002329954-Breeze-App .

We are trying to track down a QR code that will help speed along those who want to give on the spot, but it is proving elusive. We hope to corner it soon!

Please note than you MUST delete your recurring donation from Tithe.ly in order to head off potential double-donations or other problems before our relationship officially ends. Be sure to take that step!

Those who have reached the celebrated age of 70-and-a-half -- a nice, round number! -- can avoid some taxes by donating money from their Required Minimum Distribution. In order to make the donation tax-free, the check MUST come directly from the IRA; it doesn't work if you take the distribution and then write the check yourself. These donations do not provide you with a deduction, but they do take the donated amount out of your taxable income, which can sometimes keep you from landing in a higher tax bracket, causing taxation on Social Security or raising the level of that taxation. The amount is limited to $100,000 (please endeavor to hide your disappointment!), and there may be a window of time during which this is possible. If this sounds like a good option for you, we encourage you to check with your CPA and/or financial advisor to make sure this is a sensible donation method for you.

The Grace Church youth group, along with a few other Episcopal youth groups in the Chattanooga area, is going to Rock City next Sunday December 12^th, from 6:15 to about 8 p.m. The cost is $14 per youth, but if that’s tricky we can provide financial assistance! If you’ve got a youth who’d like to go or have any questions, just contact our assistant priest David Burman (dburman@saygrace.net) -- we need to let Rock City know how many are coming have them paid for by December 7^th.

It’s time to think about Christmas poinsettias! If you’d like to purchase one or more plants for the decoration of the Nave for Christmas services, please pick up a form in the Narthex, use the form printed beneath the announcements in this bulletin, or call/e-mail the office to make arrangements and provide dedications (243-3257/office@saygrace.net). Cost is $20 per plant, and we must have your dedications no later than Friday, December 17. If you don’t want a plant but would like to make a donation towards Christmas flowers, you are welcome to do that in any amount you want, and you may submit dedications as well!

GARDENS & GROUNDS:  Sunday, 12 December, "Coveralls & Christmas Sweaters" Advent Hour of Service on the grounds. Meet at Pavilion at 12:15. We will be doing final clearing of gardens on the east side of the church, and if we have enough helpers, a final culling of the Welcome Garden on Belvoir Ave. Terry Burnett will provide a have a crockpot of chili in the Pavilion -- thanks, Terry! 

GREENGRACE ENVIRONEMENTAL ACTION TEAM:  Sunday, 12 December, 9:30 am in the Rebecca Merritt Room. We are reviving this effort begun-but-COVID-suppressed from 2020. We'll have a concept, start- up meeting for all persons interested in taking action to preserve species and combat climate change in our homes, neighborhoods, and region. If you can't make the meeting, through December Lisa Lemza will be in the Courtyard/Sacristy after the 10:45 service -- and changing out of her choir robe -- to discuss any aspect of this that interests you.

Grace is again taking a group-home under its wing for the Christmas season, and instead of sending you all out to look for slippers and gloves that might or might not fit, we're requesting $25 Walmart gift cards. Tom Carroll and Jerry Evans, in their infinite cleverness, came up with that idea during last year's dark pandemic winter, and the folks in the group home loved it and requested that we choose that path again.

If you'd like to provide some necessary goods for those in the group home, please bring one (or more!) gift cards to the church no later than Sunday, December 19. You can tuck them in the almsbags; Tom also has put a receptacle on the table in the Narthex. You may also send them via mail or bring them to the church during normal operating hours.

Sunday's services will include the lighting of the Advent wreath and a musical introit from the choir at the beginning of the service.

For the safety of the community, we encourage all to take advantage of vaccinations and boosters, and we ask that all who attend either service or any indoor activity wear masks. The 10:45 a.m. service will be streamed online for those who are unable to attend. You can access the service at Grace's Facebook page , and you can find the bulletin for that service HERE.

If you have questions or concerns about worship practices, please feel free to contact April (aberends@saygrace.net) or Senior Warden, Andy Belcher (belcherandrewr@gmail.com).

HERE : https://us04web.zoom.us/j/780772724

& the password is: compline 

Thanks to all who consistently make this ministry a priority and keep us supplied and able to provide aid to those who need it. We are grateful, and they are grateful!

Registration is required. Event is FREE, though donations are appreciated.

Access the registration page HERE or paste this URL into your browser: https://www.stmaryssewanee.org/events/readings-of-the-season-free-online-event-2/

www.stmaryssewanee.org or (931) 598-5342

Sunday, December 5, 5:30 p.m. at First Christian Church (650 McCallie Avenue)

Tuesday, December 14, Brainerd Baptist Church (300 Brookfield Avenue),

7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 16, Christ United Methodist Church (8645 E. Brainerd Rd.), 7:30 p.m.

The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee is hosting an evening film screening of Mission: Joy, Finding Happiness in Troubling Times on Thursday, December 16, at 6:00 pm on Zoom. Finding joy in the past two years has been difficult, and this film featuring the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu will help us frame our search for joy in Advent. Please feel free to invite as many friends to this screening. Click here to register.

A service celebrating the life of Bishop William Sanders will take place on Thursday, December 16, at 2:00 pm Central at Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville. Visitation will take place prior to the service at 12:30 pm Central. An additional service of celebration and committal will take place at St. John's Cathedral, Knoxville in January. Bishop Sanders' obituary is available HERE (https://www.knoxnews.com/obituaries/kns042127).

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church in Burundi. The Anglican Communion has adopted a cycle of prayer called "From Aba to Zululand," praying its way alphabetically through its members on a daily basis between January 1, 2021 and September 2023. The newsletter and, in the future, the printed bulletin, will include the prayers for Sunday; if you would like to see the daily prayer requests, you can find them at ACoP.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Pray for Thankful Memorial, Chattanooga, and for St. Peter, McLaughlin, SD.