Second Sunday of Advent

December 10, 2017

Church News and Events

Advent Services continue this Wednesday! Take a brief time for respite and reflection as we anticipate celebrating the coming of Jesus. The services will be from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. on December 13 and 20 in the Fellowship Hall and will feature dramatic readings by Pastors Norma and Larry. Consider inviting someone to join in this escape from the over-busyness of the season.

You are invited to participate in the Grace Lutheran Church Angel Tree Ministry, which offers members and friends of Grace an opportunity to provide presents at Christmas for needy children in our area. To participate, choose an angel from the tree in the narthex and sign the register next to the number on your angel. There are two tags for each child — one for clothing gifts and one for a toy requests. Sizes are indicated on the clothing angel. (Gloves, socks, hats, and underwear make great “extras” for gift packages.) You may take one or both of the angels for a specific child. Then, go shopping, spend $30-$35 for each angel tag, wrap the gift(s), attach the angel securely to the package, and return it to the church and place it under the tree by the end of the day on December 14. The gifts will then be distributed with the Christmas food baskets on Saturday morning. If you have questions, please contact Ingrid Busch. Thank you for sharing God's love with these children!

Christmas Food Baskets will be distributed on Saturday, December 16. We need lots of volunteers! We will meet at 8:00 a.m. to set up tables and tape boxes together. At 9:00 a.m. we will start filling over 200 boxes with food for 36 families. Families can pick up the food boxes between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Staff Christmas Gifts: In the spirit of giving to those who give much to us, contributions are being gratefully accepted for the Grace Lutheran Church staff Christmas gifts. Contributions can be put into the offering plate (please mark them “Staff Christmas Gift”) or dropped off at the church office.

Many thanks to all who have turned in their pledges and time and talent surveys. If you haven’t done so, please do ASAP. It’s especially important now, as we call a new pastor!

On December 3, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to call Pr. Larry Boudon. He will start at Grace on January 1.

Please save the date! December 17 will offer the chance to enjoy both our Christmas Cantata at the 11:15 service and our caroling party that evening. We will gather at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, then visit homebound, nursing homes and the neighborhood. We will return to the church for a time of fellowship with a light dinner. Please invite friends and family to join us!

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Order your poinsettias now! Orders must be in by December 17.

We will have one service at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 31, in the Sanctuary. Following the service we will have a brunch in the fellowship hall. Please bring a brunch-style dish to share (meat, egg casserole, breads, fruit, salads, veggies and dip, or something for dessert). We will celebrate the interim ministry of Pastors Norma and Larry as we say farewell to them, and look to the exciting things God has in store for the people of Grace in 2018.

Offering envelopes are available in the Narthex. Please pick yours up so we don’t have to mail them.

Flower Calendar for 2018: You may sign up to give altar flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one or to celebrate a special event in the coming year.

The 2018 flower calendar is posted in the hallway above the mail folders. Your donation of $25 will provide flowers for both the traditional and contemporary services. Thanks to everyone for your support.

A Joyful Noise: First Harmony (for age 6 and up) rehearses from 3:00-4:00 p.m., Wednesdays. Ringspiration handbell choir rehearses at 5:00 p.m. on December 13 and 20; Chancel Choir at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome!

Learning Opportunities at Grace

Children and Youth Sunday School: All classes meet at 10:00 a.m. The children meet in Jacob’s Ladder (the room beside the nursery). Youth meet upstairs in the youth room (at the top of the stairs to the right).

The Adult Sunday School Class meets in Room 101 at 10:10 a.m. All are welcome to attend this class.

Monday Morning Bible Study is now studying the Book of Amos. Class meets from 10-11:30 a.m. in Room 101. Members and friends are welcome!

Thursday Evening Bible Study Invites You! We are using Ray Vander Laan's video series Faith Lessons: In the Dust of the Rabbi. This video series presents the events and characters of the Bible in their original setting to better understand the cultural context of the Scriptures. The group meets on Thursdays, in Room 101 at 7:00 p.m. Each video stands alone, so feel free to join as you can!

Alpha Series Coming in January: An Alpha program will start on Sunday evening, January 14, for our team and other interested Grace participants. Newer members and attendees are especially invited to participate. Child care will be provided. The series will run through Palm Sunday, March 25. The first set of about 10 weekly sessions will be held at Grace over home-cooked food followed by a video as a conversation starter and small-group discussion. (No, we won’t meet on Super Bowl Sunday!) Alpha is a great overview of the Christian faith for those new to it. It is not a Bible study. It can deepen your relationship with Jesus and help you become more open to the Holy Spirit in your life. Curious? Ask Josh Williamson or Judy Goans, both of whom have experienced Alpha. Or go online to alphausa.org. If you are interested ,

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please contact any of the following: Christy Gipson, Judy Goans, Pat Hope, Nancy Munro, Stan Long or Josh Williamson.

What is OLSE? Other Languages for Speakers of English, a spontaneous outgrowth of our ESOL program. Currently, we have four ongoing classes! Spanish, taught by our very own Jeniffer Navarro, meets Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. in Room 101; Chinese, taught by native Mandarin speaker Lotus Wang, meets Fridays from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in Room 101. Korean class, taught by native speaker Aileen Okada, meets Mondays, at 9:30-11:00 a.m., in Room 107. Russian will resume in the new year. All are free and open to anyone, Grace member or not. Please let the office know if you’d be interested in an Arabic class.

Spanish class will meet at Los Caballeros Mexican restaurant on December 10, at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is invited. Tell your friends!!! The class will not meet December 21, 28, and January 4.

Fellowship

Our January fellowship dinner will be January 31 at 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Nurturing will provide the meal. A donation is requested.

Prayer Chain Coordinators: If you have a prayer chain request or would like to be added to the list of those who provide prayer, please email or text Sylvia Countess or Donna Gurecki.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry has weekly working meetings on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., in the narthex. Anyone interested in crafting a prayer shawl in the company of others is invited. All who want to learn how to knit or crochet are also invited. There is plenty of yarn to use, but you will need to bring knitting needles or a crochet hook of the appropriate size. Please contact Dore Busch or Barbara Sparks if you would like more information.

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Opportunities to Serve

Free range chicken and duck eggs are available in the kitchen refrigerator. Please leave a donation for the Food Pantry.

Flower Guild members arrange flowers for the altar and special events, including the Flower Festival. If you are interested in joining the Flower Guild, please contact one of the members.

If you have coupons from KARM and would like to donate them to the church, please put them in Judy Joy’s folder.

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Worship Volunteer Schedule

Date December 17 December 24

Christmas Eve December 31

Time 9:00 11:15 9:00 11:15 10:00

Lector/Reader

Crista Froeling Andy Moehl Gayla Cutler Chuck Thompson

Merry Ann Hansen

Readings

Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24 John 1: 6-8, 19-28

2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16 Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26 Romans 16: 25-27 Luke 1:26-38

Isaiah 61:10—62:3 Psalm 148 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40

Liturgist Robert Stewart Vicki Quraishi

Worship Leader

Merry Ann Hansen

Betty Dagley Paul Gurecki

Acolyte Shenodoah Weber

Jeremy Moua Janie Hiserote Jasmine Moua Gabriel Weber

Donna Gurecki Merry Ann Hansen

Donna Gurecki

Ushers David & Kathy Olsen

John & Gloria Caton

Jerry & Sharon Riley

Paula Pope / Alicia Rudat

Valerie Hansen Sean & Brittany Moua

Jerry & Sharon Riley

Flower Guild

Marla Weber Marla Weber, Teresa Mustaffa Alicia Rudat

Offering Stewards

George Smith, Nelson Lingle

George Smith, Nelson Lingle

George Smith, Nelson Lingle

Altar Guild

Kris Brenner, Lorraine Huynh, Judy Joy

Kris Brenner, Lorraine Huynh, Judy Joy

Kris Brenner, Lorraine Huynh, Judy Joy

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This Week at Grace

CR = Choir Room; FH = Fellowship Hall; JL = Jacob’s Ladder; N = Narthex;

O = Office; S = Sanctuary; SS = Sunday School Rooms

Sunday, December 10 7:45am 4th Day Reunion Rm 101 9:00am Contemporary Worship FH 10:00am Children/Youth Sunday School Varied 10:10am Adult Sunday School Rm 101 11:15am Traditional Worship S Monday, December 11 9:00am Bible Study Rm 101 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 210 9:30am Korean Class Rm 107 10:00am Bible Study Rm 101 11:00am Gentle Movement Class FH 5:15pm 4th Day Reunion Chapel 5:15pm Aerobics FH Tuesday, December 12 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 107 12:00pm Grace’s Greatest FH 5:15pm Aerobics FH 6-8pm ESOL Classes Rms 210-213 7:00pm Stephen Ministry Rm 107 7:00pm CHADD Rm 101 Wednesday, December 13 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 101 3:00pm First Harmony S 4:00pm Prayer Shawl Knitters N 5:00pm Ringspiration S 6-8pm ESOL Classes Rms 210-213 6:15pm Advent Worship S 7:00pm Chancel Choir S

Thursday, December 14 9-11am ESOL Class Rm 101 5:15pm Aerobics FH 6-8pm ESOL Classes Rms 210-213 6:00pm Spanish Class El Caballero 7:00pm Bible Study Rm 101 Friday, December 15 9:30am Chinese Class Rm 101 10:00am Food Pantry 11:00am Gentle Movement Class FH 5:15pm Aerobics FH Saturday, December 17 8:00am- 2:00pm Holiday Baskets FH Sunday, December 17 7:45am 4th Day Reunion Rm 101 9:00am Contemporary Worship FH 10:00am Children/Youth Sunday School Varied 10:10am Adult Sunday School Rm 101 11:15am Cantata & Worship S 5:30pm Caroling FH

Prayer list: Please use the “Prayer Concerns Request” form for adding names of church members, family, and friends to the Special Concerns List. Request forms are available in the narthex, the back entry, and the church office. Requests may also be made via email. This “Family and Friends” section is updated weekly; names will be removed after 6 weeks, unless the request is renewed.

Prayer meeting is held on the third Tuesday of each month. The informal format includes scripture, time for meditation, music, and corporate and individual prayer opportunities. The next meeting is Tuesday, December 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are welcome — bring a friend!

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Communications

An updated directory is now available. Members may request a printed or electronic copy from the office.

Lights Out, Please! Lights are being left on, especially in the upstairs hallway and the old stairwell. Please double check to be sure all lights are off if you are the last to leave a room or section of the building. Thank you!

Events in the Wider Community

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge mission team Christmas Tree sale begins Friday, November 24. For almost 60 years, First Church and other local Methodist churches have sold Christmas trees to benefit local, regional, and international missions. This year, sales will benefit mission work in Puerto Rico and Honduras, recovery efforts in Florida and Texas, and disaster relief kit distribution centers in Louisiana. The trees are set up beside TN Bank in Oak Ridge (401 S Illinois Ave). The sale runs through December 15. Hours are M-F 4:00pm-7:00pm, Sat. 9:00am-7:00pm, Sun. 1:00pm-7:00pm. Questions? Please contact Emily Dennison, Director of Communications (emilycdennison@gmail.com).

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If you have bulletin board announcements, check with the office about where and how to put them up. Please date all bulletin board announcements. Items will be left up until the date of the event being announced. If the item is not about a particular event, it will be left for several weeks then replaced or moved. If bulletin boards are not changed periodically, they lose their effectiveness and people are less likely to pay attention to them.

You know you’re a contemporary Lutheran if you don’t think the phrases “Liturgical Dance” and “Lutheran Bishop” are oxymorons.

Mark your calendars-the late Christmas Eve service will start at 9:00 p.m. with 30 minutes of special Christmas preludes. The family Christmas Eve service will start at 7:00 p.m. and include our children’s Christmas program. This program also includes 30 minutes of preludes.

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Grace’s Mission Statement: Love Jesus and Help Others Love

Him, Too.

We are on a spiritual journey together. Although we have all traveled different roads, God has met each of us on the way. Jesus has accepted us as we are and we strive to do so with one another – thankful for the past, excited about the present and expectant of a wonderful future as the Holy Spirit guides us to be the people of God.

We welcome and involve all people in the life of the family of faith no matter what their journeys so that they may experience the grace we have received from Jesus Christ. We celebrate our life together in worship, prayer, study of scripture, service and fellowship. If you are looking for a Christian community of diversity that will love you, proclaim the good news of God’s unconditional love, offer a place to use your spiritual gifts to the glory of God, and grow with you in God’s love through ser-vice to the local community and world, we invite you to experience the gospel with those who believe that Grace makes a world of difference.

Grace Makes a World of Difference

Our Sunday worship schedule is:

9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service (FH) 10:00-11:00 a.m. Children and Youth Sunday School 10:10-11:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School 11:15 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Unified Service every 5th Sunday (Next on Dec. 31)

Audio recordings of recent sermons are available on the church’s website, www.graceoakridge.org. Click on the Church Life tab in the menu, then click Worship, then Sermons (or go here). CDs with recordings of the 11:15a.m. service are available in the

narthex each Sunday. Grace has a Facebook page! Give it a look — It has daily devotionals and more! Get there from our website or go directly to https://www.facebook.com/Grace-Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-Oak-Ridge-TN-303773583084/

Office Hours: Office secretary, Victoria Medaglia, is here from 9-1, Monday and Tuesday, 9-4 on Wednesday, and 9-2 on Thursday. Contact Victoria at 865-483-3787 or office@graceor.org.