Announcements
Christmas Play
You are invited to our Christmas Play “The Peaceful Kingdom” Performed by our Grace youth!
We have two performances: December 18th at 9:30 am during the Sunday school hour and Christmas Eve at the 7 pm worship. Everyone is invited – friends, family, neighbors. Hope you can come and support our efforts.In joy, the Sunday School Team
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Worship
Saturday, December 24 – 4:00 p.m. Prayerful Eucharist
Our increasingly popular early service. All the Christmas basics – Scripture, Carols & Pastor’s Christmas Sermon – with some musical gems as well.
Saturday, December 24 – 7:00 p.m. Holy Communion Family Service
Music and drama with the children bringing the Christmas message.
Saturday, December 24 – 10:00 p.m. Holy Communion Festival Worship
(Prelude begins at 9:30 pm) One of Lancaster’s finest volunteer choirs leads our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for the incarnation of our Lord. A musical feast in the great tradition of Christmas praise from ancient to modern works by the Grace Choir, Gloria Bell Choir, Chamber Orchestra, and Brass Quintet. The service concludes with choir and congregation singing Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus.
Sunday, December 25 – 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion
Do You Know A Young Musician?
We again invite young musicians to play in the prelude music for the 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service. Ask your “young musician” NOW about doing this so there is time to prepare a piece.
We prefer pieces based on familiar carol tunes. This is a great way for children to “give back” and give glory to God. Please call David or Vicki in the office: 397-2748.
Volunteers Needed For Christmas Decorating
Fun for the entire family! Join us on Sunday, December 18 following the late Service for a lite lunch and to decorate the Nave and Narthex.
There will be trees to decorate, swags to hang, window sills to festoon! All are welcome! Please call the church office to RSVP 717-397-2748
Poinsettia Orders
Poinsettia orders are due Tuesday, Dec. 20th ~ Plants are $10.00 each. Please call or email Vicki to order plants or if you have any questions 717-397-2748 or vicki@gracelutheranchurch.com
A message from our Financial Secretary
Do you need to catch up on your pledge? Want to make an end of year donation? The Financial Secretary is asking that all end of year donations be in the office by Sunday Dec. 25 in order to be credited for 2022.
Donations received after Sunday Dec. 25 will be credited in 2023.
Thank you, Rosalyn Ward & Jean Young
A Message From the Stewardship & Finance Teams
How is Grace Lutheran really doing at year end? We are doing GREAT! We should all feel thankful that during these very difficult times, Grace has continued to step up to do God’s work, offering worship and serving our community in so many ways.
We are supporting all of our programs and are successfully paying down our renovation debt – now under $1M.
With this said, we can still use your help to push us across the end-of-year finish line. We ask everyone to strreeeeeeeeeetch, and give a little more, as you are able. Together we can bring in an additional $25,000 to close the gap on funding our general fund and annual ministries. Thanks to all for supporting Grace’s ministries!
From the Grace Stewardship / Finance Team
Christian Formation
Welcome, Will Todd
Join us on Sunday December 18th during the Christian Formation hour as we welcome Will Todd, composer.
Will Todd is an English composer and pianist. He is well known for his beautiful and exciting music. His work encompasses choral works large and small, opera, musical theatre and orchestral pieces, as well as jazz compositions and chamber works.
Will’s music is valued for its melodic intensity and harmonic skill, often incorporating jazz colors, and his choral music is much in demand from amateur as well as professional performers.
Mr. Todd will discuss how he came to write religious music, his background, influences, and his journey as a composer.
Outreach
Hope For the Holidays
Thank you to everyone who participated in this project of Lutheran Refugee & Immigration Services! We sent 315 Christmas Cards to families at the US/Mexico Border.
One Week to Go in Grace’s Cup of Sharing!
As the finalists are competing for the World Cup this coming Sunday, December 18th, here at Grace our World Cup of Sharing will also be coming to a close.
The important news is that there is still time to make a gift in support of our neighbors here in Lancaster and around the world.
Locally our ingathering will help with key maintenance needs in our L-HANDS properties, while globally it will support the ministries of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
Currently over $7,100 has been posted toward our $10,000 goal. Thank you for these gifts already received. If you would like to make a gift via check, please put “World Cup of Sharing” on the memo line. Please put a similar note on your envelope with any cash gifts. You may also give online by clicking on the GIVE button on the church’s website and following the prompts to “World Cup of Sharing.” Thank you for your prayerful consideration! Please look for the updated ingathering total in a future Grace News.
Creation Care
Cap Collection Continues
We are still collecting caps for the Earth Savers Club at Central York High School. If you would like to help, drop off your clean/label free caps to the church office! (Dirty caps will be discarded—please wash caps before donating) Thank you for helping to protect our planet!
This Week’s Green Tip
This year, instead of buying the first thing you see, consider giving meaningful and eco-friendly gifts to your loved ones! You can make this possible with some zero waste options…read more here
gracelutheranchurch.com 