Grace Church Tree Trimming, today, Sunday, December 12th during Coffee Hour! Join Tom & Megan in trimming our tree and spreading the Christmas spirit.
Climate Action @ Grace meets today, Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireplace Room in the Parke House.
A Service of Advent Lessons & Carols, Today, Sunday, December 12th at 4:00 pm One of the loveliest services of the church year, it is comprised of scripture readings interspersed with a variety of choral anthems and hymns, modeled after the traditional Anglican format. All are most welcome – we hope to see you there! This program will be streamed to our YouTube video channel live (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLXNtF0_3Ar36hIIWLtK5Hg).
Space for Your Spirit: A Weekly Advent Gathering, Wednesdays, Dec. 15th, Dec. 22, 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel
During Advent Grace will host a short, half-hour gathering in the chapel each Wednesday evening. The service will begin and end with Taizé chant, or other short and simple a capella music, as well as a reading of Scripture, but the majority of the time will be your own. You can take advantage of provided exercises and materials to guide you into creative or contemplative engagement with the week’s Bible story or the themes of the Advent season; or you can just simply be with God and yourself through silent prayer, letting the background music wash over you, journaling, etc.Please consider joining us. Reach out to Megan (mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org) with any questions.
Rethink Christmas and contribute to our Community Board in the Connector!
Throughout the month of December, you will find a bulletin board in the Connector around the theme of reimaging Christmas. You are invited to add to and reflect on it before or after the service. The board will have questions related to Christmas, Creation Care, and Consumerism. You are welcome to answer its questions with the provided index cards or bring in a photo or picture that speaks to these important issues. (Please only bring a print-out or a copy of a photo you have – something you’d feel comfortable not having returned.) We plan to have other themed, interactive bulletin boards in the future to provide a unique way of coming together as a community; we thank Patty Appelbaum for the bulletin board idea!
Vestry Nomination Forms are available in the back of the church.
The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2022, To date 115 pledges have come in totaling $393,764 – most encouraging, we have 4 new pledges. We still have a ways to go but are off to a good start. To those who have pledged God Bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2022. If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Bruce Stebbins at (413) 549-5933.
St. Nicholas Bazaar: A huge thank you to all who made the St. Nicholas Bazaar such a success. What a wonderful family we have at Grace Church! Please return lawn signs as soon as possible – thanks!
SAVE THE DATE
Christmas Pageant: We’re beginning preparation for the Christmas pageant – which takes place at the 4:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve. All children and young people are welcome to participate! We’re currently gathering a list of participating children/youth. Please let Megan and Kate Atkinson (mmcdermott@gracechurchamherst.org and katkinson@doctorkate.net) know if your child will be joining in & if they have any preferred roles. Info on rehearsal times coming soon.
Palestinian olive oil will be on sale next Sunday, December 19. There will also be a Christmas card available for signing for Teya Awad, the Palestinian student for whom we provide a scholarship through these sales. Teya is studying hospitality and culinary arts at the ETVTC (Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center) in Ramallah. She is Palestinian Christian.
Adopt-A-Family For Christmas: Grace Church never ceases to amaze! All 40 families (102 children) have been adopted! (Earliest ever – think it is a record!) MANY, MANY THANKS to each and everyone who has shopped or given money! Deadline for delivery to the undercroft is Sunday, Dec 19th. Questions: melizhocken@gmail.com, 413-537-0251
Christmas Services
Christmas Eve
4:00pm Holy Eucharist with Christmas Pageant
8:00pm Holy Eucharist with choral prelude at 7:30
11:00pm Holy Eucharist with choral prelude at 10:30
Christmas Day
10:00am Holy Eucharist
Sunday, December 26th
9:30am Holy Eucharist with Christmas Lessons and Carols