GRACE NOTES

DECEMBER 2017 December 3 is the latest day Advent can start. If the first Sunday of December is on the 4th, the season of Advent actually begins the previous Sunday, November 27. So really, Advent is as late as possible this year.

And yet, it still feels as if it has snuck up on us.

The cycle of Advent and Christmas is upon us, and there are some special events that we hope you will make your way clear to participate.

You will find that musical themes will permeate the services of Advent. Seasonal hymns and carols and well-known music will be of particular importance in the worship and sermons of the first three weeks of the season, including songs like “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” Mary’s Magnificat Handel’s Messiah, and … Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem? (You’ll just have to be here on Dec. 10 to figure that one out.)

Also on December 17, we will enjoy a return of the jazz ensemble that led us in An Evensong in Jazz, happening at 4:00 that afternoon with light refreshments to follow.

December 24 will feature the choir’s presentation of A Service of Lessons and Carols during the 11:00 service. We will gather early that morning for fellowship and breakfast at 9:30 a.m. (there will not be a fellowship hour after that service). Plans for a service that evening are still being developed, and the time for that service will be announced.

December 31 will feature a service mostly of congregational carol singing. And as we have done the past two years, we will draw the cycle to a close with a service for Epiphany. This year the service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, with a light soup-and-sandwich lunch to follow. You will then show gratitude for your lunch by helping take down the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary before the next day’s service.

We hope you and your family will be part of a full and meaningful celebration of the whole season at Grace Presbyterian.

Please call the church office at 352-376-5654, if your

special day is NOT listed or is NOT correct.

6 - Varian Osteen

7 - Bruce Strickland

11 - Ruth Mize

15 - Bubba Bussard

- Wayne Wagner

21 - Sherry Crane

23 - Mary Williamson

28 - Ashley Penney

30 - Barnabas Che

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

19 - Jonathan & Mabel Tuma

20 – John & Karen Russ

28 - Wayne & Sabrina Wagner

DECEMBER

ANNIVERSARIES

The Anna Circle will meet on Tuesday, December 12th, at 10:00 am in the Library. Karen Russ and Julie Woodward will be the hostesses and Karen Russ will lead our study of Lesson 5 “Mary, Mother of Jesus” in the Ten Women of the Bible" by Max Lucado. Please bring your study book and your Bible. All women of the church are welcome. Please come and enjoy the fellowship.

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Elders on Call

For December

Lois Butler (352) 262-5893

Debbie Harris (352)213-5645

Pastoral Care

Two elders volunteer to be available to church members and friends who may need assistance. If Reverend Freeman is unavailable or the church office is closed, these elders are on-call to help.

Page 3 WORSHIP COMMITTEE

Advent season is upon us! Please mark the following dates on your calendar ... welcome to all who are able

to join us in these joyous and inspiring activities of fellowship and in worship. Come join us in the Hanging of the Greens 12/2/17 at 10 AM in the sanctuary. The first Sunday in Advent is December 3. The tradition lighting of the

Advent wreath of candles will begin. Communion will be by intinction . The afternoon of December 17th is our annual Evensong of Jazz. Please come

and join us in this musical event for Advent. A light reception will follow. The 11 AM worship hour on December 24th will feature a musical

extravaganza. A breakfast will be served in Fellowship Hall from 9:30 -10:30 before the morning worship. An intimate Christmas Eve service will be held in the early evening of December 24th.

Looking ahead: Epiphany is Saturday, January 6th. A worship service will be held at 11 AM.

Lunch will be served in Fellowship Hall following the service. After lunch, the sanctuary decorations will be removed.. all helping hands will be appreciated in removing and storing of decorations .

The 2017 FLOWER CALENDAR is up in the Narthex. Please sign up for a date you would like to provide flowers for the sanctuary. The cost is $30.00.

Those signed up for December are:

12/3 - Harris

12/10 - Butler

12/17 - Riley

12/24 - Poinsettias

12/31 - Woodward

MEN’S NOON LUNCH & FELLOWSHIP

The men of the church are invited to meet each Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the library for fellowship. Please bring your own brown bag lunch, beverages will be provided.

The 2018 FLOWER CALENDAR is posted in the Narthex. Please sign up to provide flowers for the sanctuary in 2018.

Page 4 November Session Meeting Highlights November 13th

PROPERTY & OPERATIONS Area outside the future FLAPDAN office has been pressure washed, floors have been scraped, and are being prepared for cleaning Fence was reconfigured around courtyard garden Bushes were trimmed in Courtyard Garden Korean Worship Service sign has been installed under the Grace Sign Roof of manse was cleaned off STEWARDSHIP & FINANCE 2018 pledges are being evaluated in preparation of the 2018 budget CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Adult Sunday school will begin again after the first of the year Fall reading group is meeting on Thursday at 1 pm - Searching for Sunday - Rachel Held Evans WORSHIP Hanging of the greens - December 2nd 10:00 am in sanctuary Communion via intinction on December 3rd Evensong of Jazz service on December 17 at 4:00 pm - reception to follow CONGREGATIONAL LIFE & OUTREACH The Thanksgiving Congregational dinner was a success - we were joined by the Korean church Will be putting together a new pictorial directory - hope to complete by the end of January Christmas Eve breakfast December 24th 9:30 - 10:30 - No Fellowship after worship service MISSION Considering animals to buy with Heifer International funds Presbytery Women Thank Offering will be collected from November 12-19 Well on the way to filling 20 Thanksgiving boxes for Acorn Clinic - they will be delivered Nov. 20 Life South blood drive will be held on November 26 at Parkview Baptist church Requesting no more than 10 Angels for the Angel tree for Acorn Clinic Joy Gift will be collected in December Family Promise week is December 17-24 St Francis House dinner is January 12 - we will provided a fully cooked meal Blankets Plus has been moved to February Soup-er Bowl Sunday is the 1st Sunday in February

Please join us in praying for those who have immediate concerns: Gale Nevill, Julie Woodward’s brother, Dennis Schwab; Lois Butler’s sister and mother, Holly Durst and Nancy Irving; Doug & Jo Bartz; Wally & Pauline Kirk; April Riley’s sister, Libby Jones; Pat Roth and family, and the family of Gertie Strickland.

Also pray for those with longer term needs: Harriet Brask, Evelyn Caldwell, Mickey Kientz, Anette McGee, Phyllis Piazza, Laura Raizada, Dick Ramer, Betty Squires, Martha Turbyfill, Mabel Che-Tuma’s niece - Shekina, our military, first responders and our church.

If there are other people or concerns that you would like to add to this list, please contact Karen by phone, 352-376-5654 or email office@gpconline.org.

Those signed up for Fellowship Hour in December are:

12/3 - Varian Osteen & Hazel Williamson

12/10 -

12/17 - Phyllis Manning & Mary Williamson

12/24 - Christmas Eve Breakfast - No Fellowship after worship

12/31 - Birthdays & Anniversaries - Butler

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The angels are hung on the tree with care, in hopes that Grace parishioners are willing to share. We have been given 10 Angels. The Angels are numbered. Please write your name down on the paper with your corresponding Angel number. Gifts will be picked up on December 17th during fellowship hour by Spring Williams from Acorn Clinic.

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

Thanks to all those people who helped out during our Stewardship Season. Several of

Grace’s ministries to the world were highlighted during the Sunday services during

October. Since Alvin Tuma was unexpectedly ill, Jay Collins was able to jump in at the last

minute and describe the Youth Trip to Mo Ranch Conference Center in Hunt, Texas. Thanks

also to Aidan Collins who presented a montage of pictures of the event. On October 8

Debbie Harris informed us of the many ministries of the Congregational Life Committee.

On October 15 Sherry Crane described our interactions with St. Francis House. On October

22 Nancy Niblack recounted our long relationship with Acorn Clinic.

Dedication Sunday was on October 29. This congregation showed its usual generosity in

supporting Grace’s ministry and mission. Special thanks to Jay Collins, who, with her

unique style, formatted an impressive booklet describing the 2018 Proposed Budget. Lois

Butler, continued on with the job of Treasurer and took responsibility for not only keeping

track of donations, but also did much of the mailing of letters and materials.

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Montgomery Presbyterian Center Capital Campaign

Why a capital campaign to raise funds for Montgomery? We owe $688,000 and pay $7,000 a month in debt service Paying off this crushing debt will enable us to broaden and deepen the scope of our ministry For decades Montgomery has been a place where youth have made decisions to follow Christ Montgomery is a place that allows us to slow down and strengthen our faith

WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO:

Pray for Montgomery Make a 3 year commitment to enable Montgomery to move forward Share your experiences and love for this incredible place with others

If you are interested in being a part of the Capital Campaign you can pick a pledge card in the Grace office or visit montgomerycenter.org

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Thank you to the many folks who helped out with all aspects of our Thanksgiving Pot Luck! As always, the food was plentiful, delicious and enjoyed by all!

There are several fellowship opportunities to participate in and enjoy this month. Mark your calendars to attend An Evensong in Jazz, Sunday, December 17th at 4pm. The concert will be followed by a reception in Fellowship Hall with light refreshments. We will be having an Advent/Christmas Eve breakfast on December 24th, from 9:30am-10:30am in Fellowship Hall. A sign-up sheet is posted on the kitchen door. Come early and enjoy a time together before the Christmas Eve worship service that begins at our usual 11am time.

The Fellowship Hosting schedule for 2018 should be posted in Fellowship Hall by next

Sunday. Please sign up to host a Sunday or several Sundays throughout the upcoming

year.

The finance committee would like to keep the congregation informed as to our General Fund income and expenses and our pass through donations. If you have any questions, contact Lois Butler at 352-262-5893 or treasurer@gpconline.org.

October Year to Date

Income $ 9,683.20 $144,993.21 Expenses $11,308.05 $126,126.33

Pass through donations: October Year to Date

Two Cents a Meal $ 87.00 $ 572.68 Family Promise $ 99.00 $ 507.57

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LPG, Living, Praying, Giving We learn to PLAY by playing; we learn to LIVE by living; we learn to PRAY by praying; we learn to GIVE by giving. This project is a food and household item collection. For the month of December we will be collecting the White Offering for Gainesville Community Ministry on Christmas Eve and the Angel Tree items for Acorn Clinic. Also remember the baby wagon.

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We have received a donation

of $35.73 from Amazon Smile

for the months of July, August,

and September 2017. Thank

You! Please continue to shop

at Amazon Smile and

designate Grace as your

charity.

StartWithaSmile at

smile.amazon.com/ch/59-

1744453 for your shopping

and Amazon donates to

Grace Presbyterian Church of

Gainesville, FL.

We are putting together a new pictorial directory. We need every one to closely review the contact information we now have on file for you. We will be contacting everyone either in person, by email or by telephone to confirm your information. We will also need you to either sit for a photograph or provide us with your favorite recent picture of yourself/your family by the end of this year. If you don’t need a picture taken, please get your picture to either Lois Butler or Debbie Harris as soon as possible. Our goal is to have the directory published by the end of January.

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DECEMBER

Phone: 352-376-5654

Fax: 352-376-1319

email:office@gpconline.org

Grace Presbyterian Church

3146 NW 13th Street

Gainesville, FL 32609

12/3 1st Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 64:1-9

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Mark 13:24-37

12/10 2nd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

12/17 3rd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b-55

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

12/24 4th Sunday of

Advent/Christmas Eve

Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96

Titus 2:11-14

Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

12/25 Nativity of Jesus Christ

Dawn:

Isaiah 62:6-12

Psalm 97

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:(1-7) 8-20

Day:

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalm 98

Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12)

John 1:1-14

12/31 1st Sunday after Christmas Day

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

Psalm 148

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:22-40

W E ’RE ON THE WEB :

GPCONLINE . ORG

Liturgy Passages for December