Announcements
Sunday, December 24 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services as usual.
Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve
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.
7:00 p.m. – Holy Communion Family Service
Music and drama with the children bringing the Christmas message.
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.
Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal
We have been hard work rehearsing our Christmas play, “Get the Story Straight.” Please join us in the nave on Sunday, December 24th during the Christian Formation hour for our final dress rehearsal. We will be
performing our play at the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service.
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.
Save the Date-January 14, 2024
Let’s ring in the new year with a social gathering at Grace Lutheran in January! Yes, a time to talk with friends old and new and a time to eat good food!
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2024
Time: 12:00
Place: Nolt Auditorium or Fellowship Hall, to be determined according to number attending
What: Please bring a dessert or salad or main entre to share
Sign up list will be located in our narthex
Christian Formation
ELCA National Youth Gathering
Dear Grace Family,
We’re so excited to share that 9 youth and 4 adults from our congregation have made the commitment to attend the ELCA’s National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA in July of 2024! This event is described as “a life changing faith formation event” and, while it’s normally held every three years, this is the first Gathering since 2018.
Our group has met a handful of times in preparation for this experience and we’ve begun exploring the theme of the Gathering “Created to Be”, while also learning more about our host city, New Orleans.
At our last meeting we asked the youth to share what they’re hoping to take away from the event based on what they’ve learned so far. They see this as an opportunity to grow in their personal faith while also broadening their view of the Lutheran community. They’re looking forward to growing closer both to God and to one another as we build relationships in the time leading up to and during the Gathering. For many of our youth, they’re also excited to be experiencing a new place and culture. Some of them will be flying for the very first time! As we learn more about New Orleans, we’re also looking forward to contributing economic support for our host city.
While our youth and adults have made commitments to attend this event, it would not be possible without the knowledge that you are all here at home to support us. Thank you for your ongoing support of our youth and for keeping us in your prayers as we embark on this journey. Taking a group of 13 people halfway across the country is no small endeavor!
In budgeting for the event, we’ve learned that it will cost approximately $1,500 per participant, between registration fees, airfare, hotel costs, and meals. We ask you now to prayerfully consider investing in our youth through the purchase of “stock.” Stocks will sell at $20 each, and we have an unlimited number of shares for purchase. Please simply indicate “Youth Gathering Stock” on your donation and we will provide you with a stock certificate indicating the number of shares you have purchased. Stockholders will receive regular updates about our trip preparation as well as an invitation to a post-Gathering dinner where you will learn all about our experience directly from the participants!
We look forward to growing together in faith and sharing that experience as we progress through the year. Please feel free to talk with any of us about our hopes for the Gathering!
Peace & Blessings,
Your ELCA Youth Gathering 2024 Participants
Youth:
Bailey Ambrose
Carolynn Main
Chloe Brubaker
Ella Supeck
Kaylee Thompson
Lindsay Bisignani
Mark Harman
Sanya Mumma
Sebastian Smith
Adult Leaders:
Meghan Kelly
Phil Supek
Vicki Mumma
Pastor Verkouw
Outreach
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.
ELCA World Relief Shipping Fund
THANK YOU so very much for your donations to the shipping fund to send kits and other items
overseas for those in need around the world. The total sent was $3,455.67. This is incredible; far more than we ever received before. They will be so grateful.
Barbara Slotter, Brenda Hayasaka and helpers
Our Grace Family
Our Sympathy
We give thanks for life and witness of Janis Bicevskis who died on Monday December, 4. Janis, his wife Livija, and their son John worshiped at Grace before the pandemic. Please keep Janis’s family in your payers.
gracelutheranchurch.com 