Announcements
ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING
SUNDAY DECEMBER 10 AT 9 AM
IN THE NOLT AUDITORIUM
Saturday Evening Service this Saturday (11/25) at 6 PM in the St. Peter Chapel
Poinsetta Orders 2023
Poinsettia Orders
All orders are Due Sunday December 17, 2023
Please only one name per plant
$10 per plant
If you need extra order forms they will be available in the Narthex, you can let Angie know and she will get them to you, or download the form below.
December Worship Assistant Schedule + Birthdays/Anniversaries
Advent Wreath Making Dec. 2
Wreath-makers will meet on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 9:00 am in the nave to make the large hanging Advent wreath. (Note: We have usually done this on Thanksgiving weekend, but Advent begins later this year.) We should complete this by noon or early afternoon.
ANYONE is welcome to join us; no great skill is required. It does involve some bending, stooping, and dexterity. Bring a pair of hand-pruners, if you have them. Seven to eight workers are adequate. Please let me know in advance if you’d like to participate. You may respond via e-mail or call me: 717-203-9061.
We welcome contributions of evergreen cuttings. They should be longer than one foot, and may be left by the outside chapel entrance BY 9 am, Dec. 2. The greater the variety the better.
—Murray Foreman
Advent Fair
Join us for the Advent Fair on Sunday December 3 at 9 a.m. in the Nolt Auditorium!
This year a breakfast of pastries, yogurt, granola, fruit, juice, coffee, and tea will be
provided!
Crafts for all ages! Please see the display in the Solarium.
Sign up on the sign up sheet in the solarium, Nolt Auditorium, the narthex, email Angie or call the church
office.
Outreach
Helping Our Neighbors—Lutheran Disaster Response
Many of you have asked how best to help those who are suffering from violence and displacement. Lutheran Disaster Response channels our financial gifts through the Lutheran World Federation and numerous partnering agencies around the world. One of the worst situations, ongoing, has been the Russian attack and occupation of Ukraine, which continues to uproot and destroy the lives of civilians and their habitations and infrastructure. There are many refugees who have fled to other countries in Eastern Europe. And the more recent war between Israel and the Hamas military arm in Gaza has intensified death and destruction in an already difficult place to live. Our prayers are for a speedy end to fighting and for movement towards negotiations that might begin steps toward a lasting peace for all. In the meantime, we have connections through the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, and the Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. To send a gift you may either send it through Grace Church, with the memo line marked “Lutheran Disaster Response”. We will aggregate your offerings and send one larger gift before the year end. You may also give directly using this link
Good Gifts 2023
Dear members and friends of Grace,
One of our beloved Advent hymns says, “As the moon reflects the sun until the night’s decrease, may we your healing light release…” as Christians, we are bound together in hope of a brighter tomorrow and as hopeful people, we have a sacred call to spread our hope to the world.
As we enter the season of hope, I would like to take a moment of your time to talk about a way in which we at Grace can share
tangible hope with the world. Many congregations in the ELCA, including Grace, make donations around this time of year to ELCA Good Gifts.
For those of you unfamiliar with Good Gifts, it is one of the ELCA’s many global outreach and empowerment programs. Donations to Good Gifts provide those in need with livestock and crops for family farms, various health care services including trauma counseling, latrines, education, and Christian education materials such as children’s Bibles and Sunday School curriculum.
This year the Board of Ministries is encouraging our congregation to purchase as many chicks as possible! How much does a chick cost? Chicks are a bargain at 10 chicks for $10! As we have done in the past, our Sunday School children will be receiving Good Gifts banks to fill with spare change during the Advent Fair. You can also write a check payable to Grace Lutheran Church with Good Gifts in the memo line.
All donations must be received by Sunday, December 31. If you make a donation for chicks and would like a themed card to give to someone please let me know and I will get either a hard copy or an electronic card to you.
If you have any questions about Good Gifts, please contact me at gracechurch517@gmail.com.
Yours in Advent hope,
Angie Rabbe, Assistant Program Director
Grocery Cards
Grocery cards are available at both services on Sunday mornings. You may order cards by calling Duane and Kitty Weiss. Remember all purchases of cards realizes 5% in cash back to Grace. These funds are used to support our many ministries.
Special orders for shopping cards to be used for gifts need to be placed on or before
Sunday, December 3.
Our Grace Family
Our Sympathy
We mourn with the Mahler family of Grace Church at the unexpected death of Deanna’s daughter Christina Albino in Harrisburg earlier this week. The funeral is being planned for Monday, November 27 at 11 a.m. with visitation at 10 a.m. and a luncheon to follow. May God bless them and all who mourn with comfort and peace in this
difficult time.
gracelutheranchurch.com 