December 13th, 2023

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb

- Luke 1:39-40 - 

The angel Gabriel had been busy.  His promises to both Elizabeth and Mary were indeed true!  Gabriel first came to Zechariah who told him his wife Elizabeth was going to have a baby and that they were to name him John - you know him as John the Baptist. 

Gabriel then came to Mary six months after Elizabeth, shared the news of her pregnancy, and then told Mary that she too was pregnant as well and that she should name her son Jesus -you know him, The Savior of the World. 

Upon hearing the news, Mary couldn’t wait to see Elizabeth and hurried off to see her.  Mary must have shouted something like “Elizabeth! Elizabeth! It’s me, Mary!” Then something remarkable happened. 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

-Luke 1:43-44

That precious baby boy, in his mother’s belly, knew he was in the presence of the Lord and he jumped for joy!  Yes, the very first child to ever rejoice over the Savior was still in his mother’s womb.  

We can rejoice this advent season too, because the Lord almighty is with us today!  Sunday is a special day as our precious children lead us through the Symbols of Salvation in a Caroling Kids Christmas at our 9 AM service.  I hope you can join us.

Our 11 AM service will be a regular worship service where we will reflect upon John’s leaping, and King David’s jumping- both celebrating being in the presence of the Lord.  Sunday, we celebrate too.

See you Sunday as we Jump for Jesus - I can’t wait! 

Pastor Austin 

Our children's Christmas program,

A Caroling Kids' Christmas,

will be on

December 17th at the 9 am service.

Come learn about the Symbols of Salvation.

Practice will be THIS

Saturday, December 16th

from 9:00 to 10:30 am

The 11 am service on Sunday will be a normal service.

Proclaim Jesus as Savior. 

Nurture faith in Jesus. 

Serve in the name of Jesus.

Our Purpose

Embrace Christ!

Growing Grace Fellowship

Our building fundraiser is well underway!

God is providing in BIG ways through all of His people!

We would like everyone to be a part of this journey

that we are on to build our new church home.

Fill out your pledge form on Sunday and drop it in the pledge box in the lobby or Click Here to give online.

The Calendar at a Glance 

• December 15th, Women's Gathering @ Grace Fellowship at 6:30 pm. Details below.

• December 16th, Children's Christmas Program practice 9:00 am to 10:30 am

• December 17th, Worship Service, Children's Christmas Program performance at 9 am, Christmas-Themed Fellowship Sunday during Connect Hour

• December 18th, Castle Peak Christmas Service @ 10 am.

• December 24th, Christmas Eve! Worship Services at 3 pm, 4:30 pm. 6:00 pm. (NO MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES), see below

• December 31st, Regular Worship Services at 9 am and 11 am, Holiday-Themed Connect Hour Fellowship Sunday

Plan to stay for

Connect Hour Fellowship Sunday

on December 17th.

Enjoy hot coffee and donuts, meeting new people and visiting with old friends, and

Decorate a Cookie.

Fellowship - 10:00 to 11:00 am

"Connecting to God & one another

through fellowship and God's Word."

Please don't forget to text Chelsea TODAY if you'd like to contribute to Moe's BBQ for dinner. 616-262-6666.

Feel free to bring your own food and beverages.

Bring ribbon if you'd like to learn how to make

special bows for your packages!

Join us for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Services

Sunday, December 24th @

3 pm, 4:30 pm, or 6 pm

(There will be NO MORNING SERVICES that day)

Enjoy Christmas Goodies between services.

Invite your friends to hear the Good News of Great Joy!

Sunday Services

December 17th, 2023

9:00 or 11:00

-or-

ONLINE

KIDS' CHURCH at 9:00 am & 11:00 am services

(Ages 3 through 5th grade) @ 9:00 am & (Ages 3 through 2nd grade) @ 11:00 am

Kids' Church follows the kid's sermon. They will further explore the day's sermon theme with their group. We can’t wait to see them!

NURSERY

Nursery for Newborns – up to 3 year olds.

Nursery is open during our 9:00 am service and during Connect Hour from 10:15-10:45!

Join us on Facebook this Sunday morning at approximately 9:15 AM, or view the recording anytime on Facebook, Vimeo or YouTube.

Click the image below to connect.

LORD JESUS, HEAL OUR LAND, OUR BODIES, AND OUR HEARTS.

Please pray for. . .

• The Advent Season Prayer for Joy, Lord, as we enter this third week of Advent, remind us that our joy comes from you...it is the joy of our salvation! Our joy does not depend on the gifts we give or receive, on the time we spend with family (even though this brings us happiness), but it is fully dependent on your birth and the coming King. It is the Good News of the Messiah!! Fill our hearts with this true joy and let it overflow so that others may see YOU in us.

• Growing Grace Fellowship New Building Campaign. We give praises for the progress we are making towards our goal! God is providing through all of you! Please continue to pray about how your family can contribute to building our new church home to further HIS kingdom!



• Carol Proffitt, who has been sick and is still homebound, and for those who are caring for her. Pray for continued care and provision during this difficult time.

• everyone in our congregation and their families who are dealing with the pains and trials of cancer and other illnesses including Todd Purse; Connie Kerr; Keith; Chris; Sharon Hlavinka; Rance Ketterling; Darlee, Amanda; Jerry Wiisanen; Rosemarie; April; Suzanne, Mary's sister-in-law; Bonnie Lamotta; Mark Von Soosten, Aaron, Ryan, John Kirchner, Oliver, Debra Ketterling and family, Rita Rodriguez, Julie (Larry Arguello's sister).

GOD'S WILL BE DONE

Contact Information

www.GraceFellowshipGypsum.com 

Phone: 970-445-3101

Email: [email protected] 

Staff and Volunteer Staff

Pastor Austin Kraft, 970-688-1100, [email protected] 

Missy Kraft, Administrative Assistant/Youth Director, 970-445-3101, [email protected]

Susan Flock, App and Website Coordinator, 970-361-4771, [email protected]

Israel Hernandez, Worship Team Leader, 970-331-6177, [email protected]

Pastor Dan Rohlwing, Pastor Emeritus in Memoriam

Sunday Schedule

Worship Services: 9:00 and 11:00 am (nursery provided at 9:00).

Sunday School: 10:15-10:45 for all ages (Nursery provided)

Kids Church: During sermon-time at the 9:00 and 11 am services.

Affiliation

Grace Fellowship is affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (lcms.org).