notes December 2014

Grace

Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.

OUR TEAM

OFFICE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Bay GreenHill COMMUNICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR Hope Johnstone FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR Anne Jones INTERN Mark Harris

CHILDREN 9 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHAPEL COORDINATOR Ben Bergstrom GODLY PLAY DIRECTOR Meredith Bergstrom KITCHEN AND NURSERY COORDINATOR Angie Chaney 11 A.M. CHILDREN’S CHAPEL COORDINATOR Travis Chaney

MUSIC ASSISTANT CHOIRMASTER

Liesl Dromi DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & ORGANIST Dr. Jan Wubbena CHILDREN’S CHOIR SCHOOL DIRECTOR Terri Wubbena

MINISTRIES Altar Guild Outreach Episcopal Peace Fellowship / G.A.P.P. Meals on Wheels Prayer Chain

VESTRY Meredith Bergstrom Andy Bossler Ben Hill Rob Lambert Amanda Orcutt Debi Selby Curtis Smith Robert Smith Traci Letellier Mike Moss, Treasurer Hope Johnstone, Clerk

COMMITTEES Building & Grounds Christian Formation Community Life Finance Hospitality Outreach Stewardship Strategic Planning Welcoming / Incorporation Worship

Stan McKinnon RECTOR

stan@gracesiloam.org

Lora Walsh CURATE

lora@gracesiloam.org

Larry R. Benfield BISHOP

bishopbenfield@mac.com

WORSHIP SCHEDULE SUN Holy Eucharist, 9:00 A.M. Christian Formation, 10:00 A.M. Holy Eucharist, 11:15 A.M. SCHOOL OF PRAYER, 4:00 P.M. ADVENT EVENING PRAYER, 5:00 P.M.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

WED Holy Eucharist & Healing,

12:10 P.M. MON-FRI Yoga Morning Prayer at Studio, 7:00 A.M.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

ADVENT – HE IS COMING! The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house

of Israel and the house of Judah. Jeremiah 33:14

When was the last time you were really excited about the future? Something you were

looking forward to with such anticipation that it made your heart feel full. It might have

been a visit with someone you love and haven’t seen for a while; or an experience you’ve

been planning like going snow skiing or seeing a Broadway play; or something as simple as

finally sitting down to read that book you’ve been looking forward to.

A joyful expectancy characterizes the Advent season. An attitude that God has something

good in store for us - something as good as God is.

Advent is also about preparation. Preparing ourselves to be able to receive what God has

for us. Like coming home to a wonderful home-cooked meal after working or playing or

studying hard all day. Knowing that someone who loves you and knows what you need is

also at work preparing for your return.

Advent means “coming” and this season of four Sundays before Christmas is when we wait

and watch and prepare ourselves for the celebration of not only Jesus’ birth, but of Jesus’

return to make all things as they should be. To finish the work of building God’s Kingdom,

which we are to be about right now.

As the church we maintain a kind of in-between position, to stand with one foot in the

present and one in the future. Always looking forward to that coming day, we work now to

create a community that foreshadows what the whole world will be like when Jesus

returns—a community where people love each other and forgive each other and bear one

another's burdens. A community that says to the world, "This is the way it can be! This is the

way that God intends it. And, we believe, this is the way it will be one day."

As followers of Jesus, we assume the mission of Jesus, the mission started in his lifetime and

that will reach consummation at his return. What was begun in his life here on earth will

finally be established once and for all.

And that's where our hope lies. We hope not only in the coming of one who will judge this

world and set it right, but in the fact that the one who is coming, is the one we already

know, the one whose birth we celebrate. The one who is coming is the one whose ministry

was to the poor, whose mission was to proclaim release to the captives, and who loves us

and gave his life for us.

May your Advent be full with the expectancy of our good God

.Peace,

Advent School Of Prayer…

Sundays, November 30th

to December 21st at 4:00 p.m.

School of Prayer will be held before Evening Prayer each week for

the four weeks of Advent. We will learn about a different type of

prayer each week and will then have the opportunity to practice

prayer together. All are welcome to attend! Childcare will be

provided.

Advent Evening Prayer…

Sundays, November 30th

to December 21st at 5:00 p.m.

Advent Evening Prayer will begin Sunday, November 30th

, at 5:00

p.m. Evening prayer is a great way to steady our hearts and minds

in the face of the holiday bustle. Childcare will be provided.

December 7th

at 10:00 a.m.

Everyone is invited to hear the story of St. Nicholas

on Sunday, December 7th

, during Christian

Formation at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall. We will

hear about the life of St. Nicholas, as told through

Godly Play by Travis Chaney. St. Nicholas himself

has also been known to make an annual visit to the

children at Grace! There will be a St. Nicholas Day

reception and coffee as well. EYC will still meet at

Grace House.

Advent Starting Nov. 30

Choir Camp and Worship Schedule

Dec. 6: The Grace Children’s Choir School (GCCS) will have Choir

Camp on Saturday, December 6th

from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at

Grace Church. Choristers will rehearse and prepare for leading

worship on Sunday, December 7th

.

Dec. 7: GCCS will lead worship on Sunday, December 7th

at the 9:00

a.m. service. Choristers please arrive by 8:15 a.m. to warm-up and

prepare.

Dec. 16: GCCS will conclude the semester with a concert on

Tuesday, December 16th

at 7:00 p.m. All are invited to attend and

enjoy the music that the children have worked on throughout the

semester. A light reception will follow. Choristers, please arrive at

6:00 p.m. to rehearse.

Estate Sale, December 7th

…

Cliff and Dorothy Brooks are now in a nursing home and have

asked for donations in their name to be made to Grace Church for a

future capital campaign. Items from their estate will be available to

the Grace Church family on Sunday, December 7th

in the Parish Hall.

December 23rd

at 5:30 p.m.

The adult choir will rehearse on Tuesday, December 23rd

, at 5:30

p.m. in preparation for Christmas Eve services on December 24th

.

Help us give Christmas to a family in need

For the Christmas Season, we have adopted two families in need

through the Genesis House. The families are working families,

struggling to make ends meet while providing for 4+ children each.

There will be a sign-up sheet, with tags of needed items on the

Outreach Table in the Parish Hall starting Dec. 7th

. If you would like

to help, all purchased gifts will be collected by Sunday, December

21st. Please contact Rob Lambert or the office for more information.

Thank you for reaching out to those in need in our community!

Christmas Eve, Holy Eucharist & Healing, 12:10 p.m.

Please join us on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th

at

12:10 p.m. for a Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist & Healing Service

celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christmas Eve Services, 5:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist will be held at 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Christmas

Eve, Wednesday, December 24th

. All are welcome to celebrate the

Nativity of our Lord. Children’s Chapel and childcare will be

provided during the 5:00 p.m. service only.

Holiday Office Hours

The office will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 25-26 for

the Christmas holidays, as well as Thursday and Friday, January 1-2

in observance of the New Year. Thank you!

Give a unique gift that helps others…

The Outreach Committee would like to encourage you to consider

making some of your Christmas gift purchases through

organizations that benefit others.

Donations through organizations listed below give back to help

those in need. Here are just a few organizations that will use your

funds well in the service of others:

Episcopal Relief and Development: Gifts for Life

Click this link for the online catalog, or see the printed catalog

in the Parish Hall (similar to World Vision - purchase animals

for families in developing nations to enable them to earn a

living to support themselves or contribute to sanitation,

education or healthcare initiatives).

World Vision - Gift Catalog

Click the above link to view their catalog, (similar to Episcopal

Relief and Development – you may purchase animals or

farming supplies, sponsor a child, or contribute to sanitation,

education or healthcare initiatives. World Vision is currently

making a big push to address famine in Somalia.)

SERVV - Fair Trade Gifts

Click above to visit SERVV online, or see the printed catalog on

the Outreach Table, (they carry a wide range of fair trade

handcrafts, fabrics, and foodstuffs that make lovely gifts).

Heifer International

Select a meaningful gift to give a loved one and help children

and families around the world receive training and animal gifts

that help them become self-reliant.

Dedicate a Poinsettia for the Holidays

Christmas poinsettias are available for the Christmas season. If you

would like to dedicate a poinsettia please put your name on the

Altar Flower calendar in the Parish Hall, the suggested donation is

$35.

January 6th at 6:00 p.m.

Please join us for our annual Epiphany Pageant and Chili Supper on

Monday, January 6th

at 6:00 p.m. All children are welcome to take

part in the Pageant. There will be a rehearsal for all interested

children on Sunday, January 5th

4:00 p.m. followed by pizza. Chili

will be served after the pageant on January 6th

. If you would like to

sign up to bring chili or cornbread, please see the sign-up sheet on

the bulletin board in the Parish Hall, or contact Meredith Bergstrom

at meredith.bergstrom@gmail.com. Thank you!

2014 Tax Year…

If you are looking for an additional tax deduction for 2014, any

portion of your 2015 pledge can be prepaid by December 30th

and

be reported as 2014 giving. Please make a note in the memo line of

your check stating that the funds are for your 2015 pledge. Thank

you!

2014 Stewardship Campaign

We are off to a great start with 60 pledges submitted for 2015, totaling

$322,400. for an average pledge of $4,800 towards our goal of

$360,000. We give thanks to all who have pledged, and to so many of

you who have committed to increased giving next year! Pledge cards

are available from the office or at the back of the nave. Thank you for

your generous support of our ministry together at Grace.

December Gatherings

Did you know? You can join a Cottage Group anytime! Follow along in

your book or review our online resources and join us once a month as

we cover Brian McLaren's book We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-

Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation.

Sunday 1: Dec 7 at 5:45pm at Grace House

Sunday 2 (without childcare): Dec 14 at 6:30pm at The McKinnon's

Tuesday 1-3: Dec 16 7:00pm at The McKinnon's

Benjamin: Dec 17 7:30pm at Mary Benjamin's home

Wednesday Group: Dec 18 7:00pm at The McKinnon's

For directions please call the office or visit

www.gracesiloam.org/cottage-group-2

Dec. 7 Dec. 14 Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 or Canticle 3 or Canticle 15 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28

Dec. 21 Dec. 28 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Canticle 3 or Canticle 15 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 Romans 16: 25-27 Luke 1: 26-38

Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 John 1:1-18 Psalm 147 or 147:13-21

PO BOX 767 (mailing) | 617 N. Mt. Olive St (physical)

Siloam Springs, AR 72761

479-524-8782 (main) | 479-524-6452 (fax)

www.gracesiloam.org

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