On Sunday, November 28, parishioners of all ages are invited to come make Advent wreaths together from 9:30-10:30 AM in the Parish Hall. There is no need to sign up. Thirty wreath forms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. One wreath per household please and a $5 donation would be welcome.
Please bring supplies, such as ribbon, pinecones, floral/craft picks and sprays, etc. from home to personalize your wreath and to share with others. Additional greenery from your garden to use and share would also be welcome, as there is a short supply from our wholesaler this year. You will also find it very helpful to bring small pruning scissors.
Join us on November 28 as we celebrate the beginning of Advent and a New Church Year.
Christian Education classes will not meet on Sunday, November 28. All are invited to join together in the parish hall to make Advent wreaths from 9:30 – 10:30 AM.
Light the first candle of your advent wreath for Hope.
Loving God, give light to our eyes and peace to our hearts. Help us watch and wait in hope for the coming of Jesus. Amen
Beginning on Wednesday, December 1, we will resume the weekly noon Eucharists in the chapel. If you need a mid-week time of prayer and reflection, please know that this space is available to you! We will not have the service on Wednesday, December 29, but will look to resume after the first of the year.
Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the mystery of Christmas. A time to watch and wait and be present. In the hustle and bustle that often accompanies this season, taking time to center ourselves and tap into the spirit of Advent can be hard to do. If you’re longing for a time to rest and reflect, please join us on Wednesday, December 1 at 6:30 PM in the Nave for a sound bath experience facilitated by Rebecca Turk.
A sound bath is one of the most relaxing gifts you can give yourself. It is an effective form of deep rest and rejuvenation for your physical body & your mind. Just 30 minutes of rest and meditation in a sound bath is equivalent to 2 hours of deep sleep. It will be a mini-retreat to help prepare you—mind, body, and spirit—to enter into the joy of Advent.
Please sign up on the Wednesday evening reservation form to let us know you are coming. If you’d like to join us for dinner in the parish hall at 5:30 PM, prior to the Sound Bath, meal reservations can be made on that same form. Reservations should be made no later than noon on Monday, November 29.
As we prepare for the holidays, join us for a special Advent offering of chair and/or on your mat yoga classes with some special slowing down quiet practices. Classes meet on Zoom with the links in the “on the calendar” section below. Chair yoga meets Mondays from 2:45-3:30 PM or Thursdays from 10:00-10:45 AM. On your mat yoga is Mondays from 3:45-4:45 or Thursdays from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM.
For Advent 1 on Monday, November 29 and Thursday, December 2 we will practice a form of Yoga Nidra – a calm stationary form of yoga featuring rest and quiet – deep relaxation and meditation. Bring 2 pillows and 2 blankets for all classes this week. For our Yin practices on Advent 2, 3, and 4 we will use long held simple poses to get deep into tissue slowly and quietly.
Practices will include a Body Blessing, prayers, scripture, and Advent readings. Our practices will help calm the sympathetic nervous system to activate the parasympathetic system for more balance within enhancing digestion, and helping to minimize anxiety and stress levels during this busy time of year.
For more information or to sign up contact Karen Murphy.
Grace Church invites all children and youth (12th grade and younger) to submit original artwork depicting the nativity that we can share in various ways during services and on social media during the Christmas season. Please use colored pencils, paint, crayons, pencil, or markers to draw a nativity scene on an 8.5×11 piece of paper. Don’t forget to include your name and age/or grade!
Artwork must be submitted by Monday, December 13 to be included in the printed bulletin on Christmas eve, late entries may be shared on social media. Give artwork to Cheryl Kelley during Christian Education on Sundays, bring it to the parish office, or scan (at 300 dpi or higher and saved as a .jpeg image or .pdf file) and email it to Jennifer Williams.
A reminder that the Cathedral Book Store will be at Grace Church on Sunday, December 12 and can take preorders until December 3. Browse their website, email your order to Nora Robillard, and she will bring your items with her to Grace.
Several years ago we began a tradition of decorating a Grace Family Tree. This year’s tree is located in the nave so that we may enjoy seeing it whether we participate in worship services in person or via the livestream. If you are new to Grace, haven’t yet contributed an ornament, or would like to contribute another, please bring one in and hang it on the tree. Please be sure to write your name, and perhaps the year, somewhere on the ornament or on a ribbon attached to the ornament. At the end of the season, ornaments are stored at Grace to be put back on next year. Don’t miss this chance to leave a small Christmas legacy at Grace.
Join us to share a meal together in the parish hall on Wednesday, December 1. On the menu is beef pot roast with herb veggies or stir fry vegetables, rice pilaf, peas and carrots, peach cobbler. Dinner will be available at 5:30 PM. You may pack your own box to go if you wish.
Adult meals are $10/each and youth meals (grades 6-12) are $5/each. There is no charge for children 5th grade and under. Payment may be made at each dinner, or online in advance. Information for online payment will be shared when you submit a meal reservation form. Make a meal reservation no later than noon on Monday, November 29.
Our three Wednesday meals in December will be followed by programs at 6:30 PM. Experience a sound bath on December 1, learn to weave an advent star on December 8, and join Fr. Stuart for a launch of his new book on December 15.
Please note that we are asking people to sign up for these programs, which can be done on the same form where you make meal reservations. Also note you are welcome to attend the program at 6:30 PM, without eating the meal.
Stewardship follow up calls have begun. Please turn in your pledge if you haven’t yet had a chance. Extra pledge cards are available at church, can be printed at home, and your pledge can also be made online. Our goal for the 2022 campaign is $1.1 million and our current pledge total is $805,131. Thank you for your continued support of Grace Church!
Beautiful flowers and greenery enhance our celebration of The Nativity of Our Lord at Grace Church, and you can help make that celebration special. Contributions to our Christmas flower and greenery fund may be made in thanksgiving for or in memory of loved ones, friends and family. Notice of your donation will be included in the worship bulletin on Christmas Eve.
If you would like to make an offering, please submit both the online form and your donation on or before Monday, December 13.
Look ahead to upcoming opportunities for prayer, worship, and community!
This post highlights events and news of the parish. For full news, we invite you to subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.