Announcements
CLICK HERE FOR THE CHURCH CALENDAR
December 2025 Schedule–Worship Volunteers,Birthdays, & Anniversaries
POINSETTIA ORDER FORMS
Forms are also available at the visitor’s desk in the Narthex. Orders are due 12/17
Cost this year is $12 per plant
Hershey Handbell Ensemble Concert
The Hershey Handbell Ensemble will present a holiday concert on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Lancaster, 517 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA.
Formed in 2004, the fifteen member ensemble is based in south-central Pennsylvania and performs under the direction of Dr. Shawn Gingerich. It was established to fulfill the need for an auditioned community ensemble comprised of persons able to play advanced literature and interested in advancing the art of handbell ringing through education and performance, while uniting people through the musical arts. Ringers representing seven south-central PA counties, perform on seven and a half octaves of Malmark Handbells, four octaves of Petit and Fritsen Handbells, Silver Melody Bells, and Handchimes, and other assorted instruments. In 2015, the ensemble performed at the White House.
The Ensemble will have their selection of popular CD recordings available for purchase at the concerts. For more information, please visit http://www.hersheyhandbellensemble.org or call
717-298-7071.
Flowers and Candles
A reminder: If you would like to honor/remember your loved one(s) on significant dates, such as birthdays,
anniversaries, or date of passing, please contact: Donna Weidman @ dweidman52@gmail.com or
717-201-6180
A nominal fee of $20 for flowers and/or $5 for candles helps defray the cost of the altar flowers & candles in our budget. The price for flowers will will increase to $25 in January.
Christmas Eve at Grace
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.
Outreach
WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS!
Would you like to give a present to one of the children who lives in our L-Hands homes? There is a tree in our solarium with mittens and needed information for a gift. Take a mitten, replace the mitten with a provided ornament, shop for the child, wrap the gift in a gift bag or wrapping paper and place the gift under the tree.
If you have any questions, call Barb at 717-831-0733 or Joyce at 717-575-7013.
Grocery Cards
Over $30,000.00 has been earned since 2010 by your purchase of shopping/gift cards. These funds, as planned, have supplemented the budgeted benevolences of Grace Lutheran. Grace’s unbudgeted outreach endeavors, Lutheran related organizations and Lancaster nonprofit groups have received funds to support and expand their work. The time has come for us to retire from this project. We have found the work satisfying and thank all for your verbal and financial support. December 14 will be the last day cards will be available. Certain denominations of cards may not be available as the inventory is depleted in the last three weeks. If anyone is interested in adopting this project we would be happy to talk with you.
God’s Global Barnyard
How many chicks can we buy?????
That’s the question we want to answer on February 8, 2026!
It’s time for our annual Global Barnyard/ELCA Good Gifts collection! Help our Sunday School children purchase chicks. Purchasing chicks for a family in need is a great gift for that person who has everything–chicks are a great bargain at 10 chicks for $10.
Christian Formation
Adult Christian Formation —Fall 2025
December 14: Contemplative Prayer Led by Tom Santasusso
December 21: Please support the children by attending their Christmas Play “Wow!”
December 28: TBD
December 14
12/14: Lectio Divina—Scripture based contemplation
The Examen—Find God in daily life
All are invited. You need only to bring yourself and an interest in becoming closer to God through these ancient ways of praying.
Advent Materials Are Available
Advent devotional materials are available in the solarium. In addition to the usual devotionals, we have color your Advent journeys from ELCA World Hunger. Share with your friends!
Support Our Young Members
“But that’s impossible!”
“Nothing is impossible with God!”
Come support the elementary children in their Christmas musical, Wow! You have two chances to see this wonderful effort:
- Sunday morning, Dec. 21 at 9:20 am in the Nave
- Christmas Eve at the 7 pm worship service. Did you know that the children and adults share their musical talents as well during the prelude (6:30 pm) of this Christmas Eve service? What an offering to our King!
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