205 S. Garner St., State College, PA 16801

phone: 814-238-2478; fax: 814-238-4104

email: churchoffice@glcpa.org

web address: www.glcpa.org

10:00 a.m. worship service

Today’s Hymns #ELW 242 #ELW 263 #ELW 272

Distribution #ELW 265 #ELW 296 #ELW 251

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Our Mission Statement: “Grace Lutheran Church is energized by the Holy

Spirit and nurtured through God’s Word and Sacrament to gather, feed, and

send people in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Welcome to

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH “Then Mary said, ‘Here am I,

the servant of the Lord, let it

be with me according to

your word.’ ” Luke 1: 38

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THE ADVENT WREATH...does much to focus our attention on the season of Advent and its countdown to one of the two highest festival days of the Church Year, Christmas. The candles are lit on successive Sundays in Advent to symbolize the dawning of the light of Christ. The greens of the wreath are an ancient symbol of the undying hope of Advent. The wreath itself is a circle, another old, old symbol of eternity. And, the candles are blue in keeping with the liturgical color of the season. Our thanks to Mr. Ken Shultz for sharing his design talents and gifts with us in preparing the wreath. A WORD ON THE READINGS...The First Lesson: Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David’s house (dynasty) forever. Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne. Even then, howev-er, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord’s anointed. The Second Lesson: Paul closes his letter to the Ro-mans by praising God because in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity. Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations. The Gospel Lesson: In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people (Mary) from little known places (Nazareth). This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.

↑= Please stand as you are able

↓=Please be seated

Grace Lutheran is

now on Twitter!

Follow us @GraceLCPA.

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Welcome to Grace Lutheran Church - State College, Pennsylvania

PRELUDE An Advent Christmas Suite…………………………………...A. Fedak

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LIGHTING OF FOUR ADVENT CANDLES

P: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe. You call all nations to

walk in your light and to seek your ways of justice and peace, for the night is past,

and the dawn of your coming is near. Bless us as we light four candles of this

wreath. Rouse us from sleep, that we may be ready to greet our Lord when he

comes and welcome him into our hearts and homes, for he is our light and our salva-

tion. Blessed be God forever.

Congregation: Amen.

P: The Spirit and the church pray:

C: Come, Lord Jesus.

P: All who yearn for his appearance call:

C: Come, Lord Jesus.

P: All of creation cries:

C: Come, Lord Jesus.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

P: The Son of righteousness shall rise with shining beams of healing.

Let us gather under the wings of God’s mercy.

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Silence is kept for reflection.

P: Gracious God,

C: we acknowledge that we are sinners and we confess our sins — Forgive us

for those sins known to us that burden our hearts, and those unknown to

us but seen by you. We know that before you nothing remains hidden, and

in you everything is revealed. Free us from the slavery of sin; liberate us

from the bondage of guilt; work in us that which is pleasing in your sight;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

P: In the advent of Christ, the light from on high breaks in upon us with direction and

healing. Through the life of the one born of Mary, God looks with favor upon us

and calls us to discipleship. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Je-

sus Christ, and by his authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your

sins, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

GATHER

The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN Awake, Awake, and Greet the New Morn...........ELW #242

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit be with you all.

C: And also with you.

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KYRIE (ELW p. 138)

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ADVENT PRAISE .......................................................Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here. Until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.

Oh, come, oh Wisdom from on high, embracing all things far and nigh; In strength and beauty come and stay; teach us your will and guide our way. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O come, O Lord of might, as to your tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times you gave the law in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Branch of Jesse, free your own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell your people save, and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to you, O Israel.

PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Let us pray. C: Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FEED God speaks to us in scripture reading,

and feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE……….……...………..………………………………….Vicar Ariel We welcome everyone to worship and encourage children of all ages to participate fully in our service. Qualified nursery care is available as needed. The nursery is located in room 202.

FIRST LESSON...................................................2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (pew Bible p. 245) 1Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.” 4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 8Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Isra-el; 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Isra-el; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

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PSALM: Luke 1—Please sing responsively from the selected verses.

L: My soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in | God my Savior,

C: for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your | lowly servant.

From this day all generations will | call me blessed:

L: you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me

and holy | is your name.

C: Casting down the mighty | from their thrones

and lifting | up the lowly.

L: You have filled the hungry | with good things

and sent the rich | away empty.

C: You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel,

to remember the prom- | ise of mercy.

SECOND LESSON………………………………..Romans 16:25-27 (pew Bible p. 923)

25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the procla-

mation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept se-

cret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made

known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring

about the obedience of faith—27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom

be the glory forever! Amen.

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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW 142a)

HOLY GOSPEL……………………………………..…..Luke 1:26-38 (pew Bible p. 831)

L: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 1st chapter.

C: Glory to you, O Lord. (spoken)

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called

Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of

David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, fa-

vored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and

pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be

afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your

womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be

called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his

ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom

there will be no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a vir-

gin?” 35The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of

the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will

be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also con-

ceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For

nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of

the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from

her.

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P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise to you, O Christ. (spoken)

SERMON………………...………………………………...................................Vicar Ariel

HYMN OF THE DAY Savior of the Nations, Come…………………………ELW #263 APOSTLES’ CREED

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived

by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius

Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the

dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at

the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living

and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of

saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Response after each petition:

L: Lord, in your mercy

C: Hear our prayer.

WE SHARE THE LORD’S PEACE

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: And also with you.

OFFERTORY The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came and

Rejoice, Rejoice Believers……………………………………..P. Manz

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OFFERTORY SONG……………………………………...…………………...(ELW #182)

C: Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing,

Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with

the bread of life. Gather the hopes and dreams of all; unite them with the

prayers we offer now. Grace our table with your presence, and give us a

foretaste of the feast to come.

P: Savior of the nations, come. Make your home here in us. Feed us with your

love, that our faith shine ever new and our lives reveal your light.

C: Amen.

GREAT THANKSGIVING (ELW p. 144a)

P:

P:

P:

C:

C:

C:

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P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise .... we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

C: (ELW p. 144b)

P: Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: Blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dreams. Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave

thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body,

given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, say-

ing: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for

the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life, as we

proclaim the mystery of faith.

C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

P: God of salvation and resurrection, pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these

gifts of bread and wine. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and grace.

And to you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be praise and honor, now and

forever.

C: Amen.

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C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

P: The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, the meal is ready. C: Thanks be to God.

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION All who are baptized are invited to join the congregation in receiving the Savior ’s Body and Blood. Children not yet receiving Communion are invited forward for a blessing. Rice wafers and grape juice are available for those who have sensitivities to wheat or alcohol. An acolyte has a special tray with these alternative communion elements. Instructions: Upon receiving the bread, move to the chalice and dip the bread in the conse-crated wine.

C: (ELW p.146)

COMMUNION HYMNS: ELW #265 -- The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came ELW #296 -- What Child Is This ELW #251 -- My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness

P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

C: Amen.

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P: God for whom we wait, you come to us in the broken bread and the cup we share. Make us ready always to welcome Christ into our hearts, and send us forth to be your people in the world, announcing your coming among us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

SEND God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen.

HYMN Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming....................................................ELW #272

A: Go in peace; serve the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE O How Joyfully……………………………………………….M. Burkhardt

The Rev. P. Stevens Lynn, Senior Pastor ...................... pastorlynn@glcpa.org

The Rev. Scott E. Schul, Pastor………………………...pastorschul@glcpa.org

Vicar Ariel Williams……………………………………...…..awilliams@glcpa.org

Laurel Sanders ....................................................... Director of Music Ministries

Pat Lloyd and June Miller .................................................................. Organists

Anna Carol Buffington ............................................ The Bells of Grace Director

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20807.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

C: (ELW p. 135)

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Announcements for December 24, 2017

A FRIENDLY GREETING TO ALL...who have joined us today to worship and praise our Lord & Sav-ior. May this time of worship bless us to be a bless-ing to others. If you are a guest this morning, please complete the beige slip in the pew pocket where you are seated and place it in the offering plate. Thank you! FREE FAMILY MINISTRY RESOURCE…Are you

making use of Grace’s “Taking Faith Home” family ministry re-source? On one double

-sided piece of paper you’ll find an entire week’s worth of scripture, prayer, and faith activities de-signed to help your family grown in faith. The re-source is updated weekly and is linked to the Sunday lectionary readings. Pick up your FREE copy at the Welcome Center! LECTORS...The January sign-up sheet is in the nar-thex. Thanks to those who have served as lectors in the past. Veterans and new readers of all ages are also encourages to sign up! GARDEN OF READIN’S next meeting is on Tuesday, January 16 at 10:30 am and 6:00 pm in Fireside. The book selection is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown and the facilitator is Susan Hirth. CALLING ALL SINGERS!...The Grace Adult Choir will begin rehearsing on Wednesday, January 10th! Rehearsals will be Wednesdays from 7:30-9:00pm in the sanctuary, and 10:00am Sundays in the choir room. Sunday, January 28 will mark the return of the Adult Choir’s weekly participation in the 10:30am ser-vice. Jayne Glocke is the new director of the choir. She has been a member of Grace Lutheran Church for 20+ years, and brings almost 40 years of experi-ence directing public school and university level

choirs to the position. Jayne has been on the choral faculty of the PSU School of Music for 19 years and has directed the PSU Chamber Singers and Wom-en’s Chorale. Currently, she is the director the PSU Oriana Singers and Campus Choir. Although singers of all ability levels are welcome, we are especially looking for singers who have had previ-ous choral experience and/or read music. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jayne at: jpg9@psu.edu. SPONSORSHIP SIGN-UP CHARTS...for radio broadcasts, altar flowers, and bulletins are now in the Narthex. Costs are the same as last year - $165 for one sponsor or two people can share $82.50 each for broadcast, $75 for altar flowers and still $25 for bulle-tins and can be dedicated to honor or memorialize someone or to the Glory of God. Explanation sheets and reminder envelopes are also with the charts. Thank you very much for your support. 2018 OFFERING ENVELOPES...As we start a new church year, each of us must ask, “What are our pri-orities? Where are we placing our treasure?” The en-velopes are on the tables in the narthex. Prayerfully ponder your priorities for the coming year, and use your offering envelopes to help direct them. When picking up your 2018 envelopes, please confirm that the envelope number on the top label of the box matches the number in the little window on the front left side of the box. If they do not match, please let the office know immediately and please do not use those envelopes. GRACE LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGAR-TEN...is looking for substitute teacher’s aides. If you or someone you know may be interested in ap-plying, please contact the school office at 814-238-8110 or glpk@glcpa.org.

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Great Blessings through Small Things 2018 Grace Lutheran Lenten Devotional

By God’s grace, a single person can have a huge impact on the world. Likewise, a single verse of scripture has the power to change hearts and lives. This Lent, we invite you to explore how God brings about great blessings through small things. Our 2018 Lenten devotional will offer a series of small but powerful verses from the Book of Psalms that bear within them God’s big bless-ings. You will be inspired as the reflections of our friends here at Grace, paired with these brief snippets of scripture, accompany you on your Lenten journey and fortify your prayer life. Please consider being a devotional writer this year. A signup sheet is available in the Upper Commons.

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Worship Assistants for Sunday, December 24, 2017

10:00 A.M.

Lectors Brian Christian

Greeters Brenda & John Palmgren Karen & Mark Mrsa

Acolytes Jack Hockenberry Lincoln Hockenberry

Deacons Paul & Leslie Wagner

Worship Assistant

Cantor Molly Hunter

Ushers Carl Bankert

Sally Keisker-Bankert

Pete Forster

Sue Forster

Radio Ministry; Sound

Wayne Pauley

Coffee Hour Hosts 10:00-10:30 a.m.

No coffee hour

Welcoming Center Hosts

Sue Forster

The altar flowers are given by The Weyandt Family to the Glory of God

This morning’s bulletin is sponsored by Greg & Kathy Weimer in honor of their children & grandchildren

Today’s radio broadcast on WRSC - 1390 AM is sponsored by Betta Kriner in memory of John & John-John

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PRAYER CONCERNS for December 24, 2017

All Military & Nat’l Guard and

those serving in war-torn

Countries

Sam Alexander

Dave Asencio

Sara Cocolin

Cathy Antes, friend of Deana Coine

Paul & Lois Confer & family,

friends of Phil Vollmer

Emma Deppen, granddaughter of

Winnie & Marion Deppen

Pastor Dowhower

Vicki Garvin

Megan Grunthaner, Kathy Cathcart’s

daughter-in-law

Sherry Harrington

Skylar Hill

Shawn Hintosh, brother of Melissa

Chapman

Lenore Horner

Sadie Hounshell, friend of the Davis’

Curtis Krebs, brother of

Sandy Cassady

Pete Krewson, father of Erin Tusar

Nick Lingenfelter

Frances Michalkiewicz, sister of

Sandra Larson

Al Musgrave

Amy Nevling

Maryann Newcomb

Nick Scholz, friend of Ethan &

Morgan Wagner

Margaret Schrock, Kathy Weimer’s

mother

Marty Shultz, Deana Coine’s cousin

Family of Leon Slear upon his death

Victoria Smith

William Snape, Sr., brother of

Phyllis Favorite

Carol Spangler

Marlowe Stiger

James Tarman

Tammy Trinadad

Mary Utzman, Jane Utzman’s mother

Betty Waite, sister of Martha Musser

Ross Weimer, Greg Weimer’s father

Kathleen Wolfhope, friend of the

Flanagan family

Members in the hospital

Bill Miller

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Please pray that God blesses each home with harmony and peace. Please pray for families that are homeless and moving away from war. Please pray for all who are hungry with no food to satisfy them.

Weekly Prayer Letter of Encouragement

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord

and keep it. A person is powerful on their knees.” ~

Corrie ten Boom

We at Grace strive to be a people of prayer. And we should since prayer is how we talk with God. Each week in our bulletin we list Grace members or people connected to our Grace family who are in need of our prayers. A way of making those prayers and our inten-tion to prayer more tangible, we are beginning a prayer letter ministry. Each week, one or two names will be selected from our prayer list to receive a letter acknowledging our pray-ers and signed by Grace members. Each week the letter, with ample room for signatures, will be placed in the gathering area outside the upstairs restrooms-what we are now calling - “The Commons.” All who are willing to commit to pray for its recipient are invited to sign the letter. It is our hope that these letters and the prayers promised by the signatures of our members will serve as powerful encouragement and source of healing and wellness to those in need of prayer.

This week the Prayer Letter will be sent to Bill and Jo Anne Miller.

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OUT OF THE COLD CENTRE COUNTY Grace will be hosting Out of the Cold—January 2nd through January 14th. Please consider volunteering for one of the many opportunities to assist. Training is provided for all hosts and overnight volunteers. The signup sheets will be on the bulletin board soon.

Out of the Cold (OOTC) provides warm and safe overnight accommodations and nourishment for members of our homeless community. Many congregations within the Centre Region participate and take turns hosting our guests.

Grace Lutheran Church has supported this mission since OOTC started. There are many opportu-nities for our members to show their support. During the two weeks that we host the program there are opportunities to be an overnight volunteer, a host, provide a meal, wash towels, help un-load and load the program supplies and equipment, and provide miscellaneous needs.

Please consider volunteering this year.

TO THE MEN OF GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH...For many years a group of men from Grace Lutheran Church have had a morning breakfast prayer/Bible study group on Thursday mornings. This has been a nice way to get to know other men from the congregation--for those who may attend different services, those who are working and want to meet on a breakfast or lunch break, those who are retired. We have met at Perkins, the State College Dinner, and most recently IHop. IHop has been great, and we would like to continue the tradition, but attendance has been sparse. The proposal is to meet at IHop at noon for lunch beginning in January. We will meet on the second Thursday, January 11 to start and then look at how often we would like to meet. If you are interested in this small group ministry, please come to the January lunch or, if you have questions, contact either Pastor Schul (pastorschul@glcpa.org) or Ken Kulp (237-3993).

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This Week

At Grace