NEWSPAPER TREATMENT Published weekly except during July by GRACE LU-THERAN CHURCH, 517 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. Vicki L. Mumma, Editor. Periodicals Postage Paid at Lancaster, PA. Postmaster: Send address changes to GRACE NEWS, 517 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.

Staff The Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Verkouw, Pastor

The Rev. Nancy L. Weiss, Visitation Pastor Kathryn H. Verkouw, Program Director

Angela Smith, Assistant Program Director Murray J. Foreman, Director of Music

Kathryn H. Verkouw, Director of Bell Choirs Vicki L. Mumma, Parish Secretary

Dennis L. Maharg, Sexton

Church Office-397-2748 www.GraceLutheranChurch.com

CALENDAR - Dec 8-14

Friday Sunrise Bible Study—Parlor ……………..….6:30 a.m. NA Home Group—Stafford Room …….…..11:00 p.m.

Saturday Worship—Chapel …………………………...6:00 p.m.

Advent 2

Isaiah 40:1-11, Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3:8-15a, Mark 1:1-8

Worship—Nave …………………….…........ 7:45 a.m. Kyrie Bells—Balcony ………….…….……...8:30 a.m. Blood Pressures—Kitchen …………………..8:30 a.m. Christian Formation Hour …......………...…. 9:00 a.m. Worship—Nave ...……….............................10:30 a.m. Matu—Chapel ……………………………....1:00 p.m. NA—Fellowship Hall.……………...…..……7:00 p.m.

Monday Staff Meeting—Office …………………......10:00 a.m. Gloria Bells—Balcony ………………….…..6:30 p.m.

Tuesday Love Does Small Group—Stafford Room …10:00 a.m. Love Does Small Group—Stafford Room .....7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Child Care Staff Mtg.—Parlor ………….…..5:30 p.m. Community Meal—Fellowship Hall ……......5:30 p.m. Sanctus Bells—Balcony …………………….6:30 p.m. Cookies & Conversation—Stafford …..…….7:00 p.m.

Thursday Love Does Small Group—Stafford Room ..12:00 p.m. Grace Choir—Auditorium ………………….7:15 p.m. Band Practice—Stafford Room …………….8:00 p.m.

Attendance for Worship

Worship 20 / 41 / 131 = 192

Sunday School 62

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Grace Lutheran Church To view monthly events go to our website

www.gracelutheranchurch.com

click on the calendar link at the top of the page.

9 Green Gift Ideas

For The Holiday Season HUFFPOST - Green

Want to give gifts that your friends and family will love while still caring about the environment? Giving green gifts is about more than just choosing a sustaina-ble product. There are lots of ways to give gifts that can help your friends be more environmentally con-scious or that don’t require buying any items at all. Check out these ideas from our gift guide to get you on your way to a happy (and green) holiday!

4. Gifts That Will Help Cut Down On Waste For example you can give bento boxes, salad contain-ers or reusable snack bags for lunch, along with a bam-boo utensil set or nice chopsticks. For the kitchen, a sleek compost pail, nice cloth dish towels or a water filter are all good ideas. And everyone can always use a reusable water bottle or a good coffee thermos.

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December 5, 2017

Vol. 52, No. 18

HOLY WORSHIP † WHOLLY SERVING

Advent Fair

The Annual Advent Fair held on Sunday, December 3rd was a great success!

Over 50 people enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship, crafting, and a meal.

Special thanks to Marianne Nolt for organizing this year’s event,

and to Barb Steinmetz for providing the meal.

Advent Begins

Advent 2018

Stir up your power, and come!

If you didn’t remember to take home your Advent Devotional—they are available in the Narthex and outside St. Peter Chapel.

Advent 2

Carolynn Main Quentin Miller

Flocks are ready to fly to a friend or neighbor near you!!!!

Flocks are waiting to be sent out to your friends and neighbors!

Visit our Youth Gathering Table on Sunday morning to sign up!

Some of our recent “victims”

No one is safe - not even the Pastor and Mrs. Verkouw!

Pastor & Mrs. Verkouw

Bob & Faith Martin

Barb & Ed Krimmel

Please Keep in Your Prayers For healing from illness or surgery this week: Bob Martin, Bill Salzman, Catherine Schnader, Lorraine Steele, Pat Suter

Grace folks who have asked for our continued prayers: Gloria Ashby, Bonnie Beecher, Mary Bitts, John & Dolores Byers, Rose Fasig, Ruth Galebach, Jennie Hanna, George & Judy Hansalik, Ellen Hines, Krisi Johnson, Flo Koenig, Pat Long, Jeremy Morant, Jim Morant, Mike Ober, Myrna Pierson, Mark Powell, George Ries, Jean Schuam, Dave Schober, Corey Smith, Jay Smoker, Mike Snyder, Harvey Stewart, Pat Stewart, Emma Stumpf, Carolyn Wenger, Janet Wood

Parish News ...

THANK YOU for your purchases of shopping cards! Grocery cards are available every Sunday morning or by calling …

Duane and Kitty Weiss at (717) 464-2536.

Grocery cards are great for holiday giving!

Grocery Card Ministry

Needed! Socks, Socks, and more Socks!

Socks for men, women, and children are requested for the Wednesday evening community supper folks. Drop off in in the narthex or outside the chapel through Nov. and first part of Dec. Thank you for your generosity!

Poinsettia Orders

Poinsettia orders are being taken until Sunday, Dec. 17th.

Plants are $10.00 each.

Forms are available in the Narthex and outside St. Peter’s

Chapel.

Congratulations to ...

Sandy Oster and James Valotta

on the birth of their daughter

Cassandra Joy Valotta, born Nov. 9, 2017.

Calendar of Word and Season 2018

2018 calendars are now available in the church office.

We have limited numbers—so call soon to get yours!

The cost is $5.00

Coming up!

Mark your calendar for this five week session

beginning Jan. 7 through Feb. 4

9:00 a.m. in the Auditorium

Week One January 7 - ”Why do conservatives need liberals—and vice versa” Arthur Brooks Week Two January 14 - “What’s a better way to talk about abortion?” Aspen Baker Week Three January 21 - “How can tourism promote peace in the Middle East?” Aziz Abu Sarah Weeks Four & Five January 28 and February 4 - “How can we have a more candid conversation about race?” Verna Myers

Mark your calendar for “Beyond Tolerance”!

Sunday Social – January 7, 2018

“Cum esse”- Come and Eat!

Let's spring into the new year by coming to Grace's first Sunday social on January 7. We will join together at noon in Fellowship Hall to socialize and support two wonderful ventures.

The Bertrand Family has recently opened a restaurant in Strasburg, PA. The restaurant, called Smokestack BBQ, features pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, fried pickles and more. Our Sunday social will feature a few of the Bertrand's' specialties: pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans or macaroni and cheese. A donation will be asked to cover the basic costs of the foods.

Any additional profits will be given to support our youth, who are going to the national youth gathering in Houston, TX.

A sign-up sheet for your food choice will be placed outside the narthex/hall of our nave and St. Peter's Chapel.

Support Grace Youth attending ELCA YOUTH GATHERING - 2018

Isaacs Gift Cards are being offered for sale! $10.00 each! It’s not to early to think about holiday gift giving.

These make a great stocking stuffer!

The Birth of Jesus - Play Practice

Pre-school optional - Special Play Practice is scheduled for

Saturday Dec. 23 from 9:30 a.m. —12:00 noon.

This is an important practice—please do your best to attend! Thanks!

Wednesday, December 13th at 7:00 PM in the Stafford Room

(lower level of the church office)

Christmas is right around the corner, and sometimes this can be a “mixed blessing” when a friend or loved one has died, either recently or long ago.

We are having an evening of Christmas cookies and conversation for those who have lost a friend or loved one and those who support them.

We will also be lighting a candle in memory of the special “saints” in our lives. Please bring a candle and join us in the Parlor for this informal time of fellowship and remembrance.

For more information call Barbara Andersen, Hope and Caring Group Facilitator, at 717-898-4805.

Hope and Caring Group Evening of Cookies and Conversation

Donations for Incoming Families

The School District of Lancaster continues to receive families from Puerto Rico and other U.S. Virgin Islands who are relocating to Lancaster as a result of Hurricane Maria.

The district is collecting the following items for these families in need: deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, soap, lotion, socks, underwear, towels, wash cloths, laundry detergent, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, brushes and jackets/coats. Items can be dropped off on the 3rd floor of the Educational Building by the faith tree in the music room until Epiphany. Monetary donations will also be collected in a box located in the Narthex.

Children’s Advent Gathering to benefit the Refugees of Hurricane Maria

Young Musicians wanted for Christmas Eve!

We again invite young musicians to play in the prelude music for the 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service. Ask your "young musician" NOW about doing this so there is time to prepare a piece.

We prefer pieces based on familiar carol tunes. If you need, Murray can write the tune in the appro-priate key for an instrument. This is a great way for children to "give back" and give glory to God. Call Murray of Vicki in the office: 397-2748.

Schedule for Advent Four and Christmas Eve!

Saturday, December 23 - Advent Four

6:00 p.m. in St. Peter Chapel

Sunday, December 24 - Advent Four

One service at 9:00 a.m. in the Nave

Sunday, December 24 - 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.

Sunday, December 24 - 7:00 p.m. Holy Communion Family Service

Music and drama by the children bring the Christmas message.

Sunday, December 24 - 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 Sextet. The service concludes with choir and congregation singing Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus.

Youth Group Holiday Party

Youth Group Holiday Party

Sunday December 17, 2017

12:00 noon in the Stafford Room

Please bring a wrapped gift

($10max)

RSVP to Angie at the Church Office 397-2748 December 10, 2017 (2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B) “Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.” –Psalm 85:8 Are you listening for what God is saying to you? To your congregation? All of God’s

people? It’s hard to hear anything with the anxious noise of the world. Living right,

we turn away from the noise and listen for God’s word of peace. And we live it!

Stewardship Snippet

A reminder from the Financial Secretaries ...

All contributions must be in to the office by Sunday December 31.

Our Financial Secretaries will be posting the 2017 end of year offerings on that day.

Anything received after that date will be reflected on your 2018 statement. Thank you.

100% for 1% The Fall Campaign provides a meaningful opportunity for ALL OF US (100%) to deliberately identify how we will give of our time, talent and treasure (INCREASING AT LEAST 1% ?) over the next year, responding with the gifts that God has given to us. If you haven’t re-turned your pledge form, please consider doing so.

As a congregation, your response over the past year has resulted in our offerings tracking to sustain our on-going ministries here at Grace, simultaneous to our undertaking a capital campaign. Thank You for all of your gifts to Grace. In Christ, Donald Main for the Grace Stewardship Team

Annual Stewardship Campaign

Marotta Main Architects will use the next several weeks to update the drawings based on the information received at the design meetings.

We will meet on December 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. Hope to see everyone there. Jan Mandros

Renovation Team Meeting Reminder