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PAID SPRINGFIELD MO

PERMIT # 347

Grace United Methodist Church

600 South Jefferson Avenue Springfield, MO 65806-3108

(417) 869-0765

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the cele-

bration of work and the simple life... a true folk

festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the

seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the

ripe product of the year - and the deep, deep

connection of all these things with God. ~Ray Stannard Baker

Calendar Thursday, November 24 Office Closed

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday, November 25

No Brown Bag Bible Study

Sunday, November 27

First Sunday of Advent

Last Day to order poinsettias

9:00 am Sunday School

10:00 am Coffee Fellowship

10:30 am Celebration of Worship

No 4th Sunday Dinner

Tuesday, November 29

6:00 pm Finance Meeting

6:30 pm Church Council

Wednesday, November 30

5:00 pm Dinner

6:00 pm Prayer Service

6:00 pm Children’s Program Practice

6:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal

Last Day for Mitten Tree & Candyland Gifts

Thursday, December 1

No Grandparents as Parents Support Group

Last day for Ozarks Methodist Manor Gifts

Friday, December 2

6:00 pm Youth serving Chili and Chicken Soup

6:00 pm Gingerbread House Silent Auction

6:30 pm Hanging of the Greens

Saturday, December 3

12:00 pm Believers Sunday School Luncheon

12:00 pm Steiner Violin Student Recital

Sunday, December 4

Regular Sunday School & Worship Schedule

11:30 pm Carolers Lunch in Fellowship Hall

1:00 pm Christmas Caroling

Children’s Church to the movies—Time TBA

Tuesday, December 6

11:30 pm United Methodist Women Potluck

6:30 pm Trustee Meeting

Wednesday, December 7

Regular Dinner, Prayer Service, Chancel Choir

Rehearsal, Handbell Rehearsal Schedule

6:00 pm Children’s Program Practice

Friday, December 9

3:00 pm Lessons and Carols Rehearsal

5:30 pm Youth Pajama Christmas Party

Saturday, December 10

9:00 am Youth Baby-sitting & Gift Bags

open hearts open minds

open doors Vol. 5, Issue 18 onnection The Grace

C November 22, 2011

SEEK God and his direction for our lives. SERVE God and our community through worship and acts of Charity. SHARE Christ with all who do not know His loving grace.

It is our privilege to extend a very warm and heartfelt Grace

welcome to the two newest members of the Grace Family!

Sandra and Eron Ellis joined Grace Church last Sunday. We

hope they are blessed by their new Grace membership.

Please take a minute to introduce yourself as you see them

around the building.

Sanctuary Poinsettias

Sunday, November 27 (Yes! That’s this

coming Sunday!) is the last day to order

your poinsettias to decorate the sanctu-

ary during the Advent season. Order

forms are in the Sunday bulletin or you

may call the church office.

The plants are the same as last year, $7 apiece. If you wish,

you may dedicate your plant(s) to the Glory of God, in honor

of, or in memory of friends and family. Your plant or plants

are yours to keep, however, please plan to leave them until

after our worship service on Christmas Sunday.

Decorating Grace Church for

Christmas is one of the most en-

joyable and fun activities for

many at Grace.

This year, there are some special

things going on with our Youth

which will make this time even

more special.

Beginning at 6:00 pm, the young

people will be serving chili and

homemade chicken soup. They

will provide table service by tak-

ing your order, and bringing it to

your table. Love offerings are

appreciated.

The youth have also been busy planning how they will

decorate Gingerbread Houses. Their creations will be

available through silent auction on Friday evening.

Please come to beautify our church and to support our

Youth. Proceeds will be used for youth ministries and to

buy beanbag chairs for the Star Room.

Friday December 2

Children’s Church News

All the children of Grace, as well as the

adults who are a child at heart, are in-

vited to go as a group to see Happy Feet

2 at the Hollywood Theatre.

Sunday, December 4

Time to be announced

All children and youth are invited to

be a part of our Annual Christmas

Program on Sunday, December 18

during 10:30 worship.

There are parts for everyone from

itty bitty people to older youth.

Come be a part of the play and the

fun!

Practices are at 6:00 p.m. on the following Wednesday

evenings: November 30, December 7 and 14.

Here We Go A-Caroling!

Carolers, gather for lunch in Fellowship

Hall after worship on Sunday, December

4 and then we will carpool to various

Springfield care facilities.

All are welcome! A good singing voice is

not a requirement. Come make a joyful noise.

The Grace office will be closed on Wednesday, Novem-

ber 23 and Thursday, November 24 in observance of

Thanksgiving. Regular office hours will resume on

Monday, November 28. They are:

Monday and Tuesday 9 am to 4 pm

Wednesday and Thursday 9 am to 1 pm

Friday Closed

Each Wednesday

Dinner 5:00-6:00 and Prayer Service 6:00-6:30

November 23

There will be no dinner or Prayer Service

November 30

Cooks: Mike and Cathy Carr

Speaker: Ken Bratcher

Hotdogs on the charcoal grill, chips, slaw & birthday cake

Madonna Breier

Sally Breyhl

Prayer Wall Request

Hannah Cook

Desiree Frey

Prayer Wall Request

Vergie Harmon

& Colleen

Ruth Holmes

Peggy Jones

Ashlee Piacentini’s Aunt

Joanna

Friend of

Thelma Hurshman

Betty Kyle

Carol Langsford

Mary

Friend of Eron Ellis

Jim & Judy McNamara

Our Attendance and Gifts

Sunday, November 20 84

Sunday School 26

Wednesday, November 16 32

Ministry Offering $ 2178.00

Other Donations & Income $ 126.93

Mattie Mesa

Juanita Kukal’s

Sister

Jim Morris

Ann Shackelford

Marsha Staples

Baby Serenity Thaler

Family of the Carrs

Evie Tropp

Melba, Thelma, Patricia, Joe & Fran, Linda, Alyse,

Vanita, Leona

Friends of

Beverly Sanders

Traveling mercies for Minda Cox, The Smith

Family, Phil Stoke, Sandy Zarins & all traveling

over the holiday

Brown Bag Bible Study

There will be no Bible Study on November 25.

Gary Metcalf Dec 1

Karen Entriken Dec 4

Frank Moran Dec 5

Daniel Hancock Dec 6

Janice Johnson Dec 6

Claire Lukachick Dec 6

Tom Strong Dec 6

Del Hannah Dec 9

Mary Ann Morris Dec11

Pauline Tiller Dec13

Kyra Smith Dec14

Marilynn Sater Dec14

Kyra Smith Dec 14

Emma Lee Dec 17

Gary Shisler Dec 17

Wallace Warren Dec 17

Tina Gross Dec 19

Evelyn Laney Dec 23

Austin Lee Dec 23

Bob McArthur Dec 26

Terrea Fann Dec 27

Jane Metcalf Dec 28

Stan Miesner Dec 30

We just want to thank you once

again for your contributions and

food donations in support of our

commitment to the Crosslines Food Pantry and CCCO

neighbors. On the 10th of this month, along with our Mes-

siah Lutheran partners, we served 57 families consisting of

164 individuals at Crosslines.

You can see that the need is great and we couldn’t have done

it without you.

~Missions Committee

Thank you for keeping us on the newsletter mailing list and

prayer chain. I enjoy Diana’s “column” each week.

Please apply these funds where most needed.

Merry Christmas!

~Jim and Judy Mondy

To everyone at Grace, I thank you for your calls, cards and

prayers surrounding the recent illness and passing of my

sister-in-law, Margaret Vincent. Everyone was so nice.

~Betty Prather

Janella’s cousin appears to be free of

cancer after her treatments!

Ashlee Piacentina offers thanksgiving

for the presence of her friend, Jordan.

We are delighted to welcome Sandra and Eron Ellis

into the Grace Family.

Sunday’s Lessons

Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37

Message

Watching in the Wilderness

Should you like to give, following

are the last days for:

Nov. 27—4th Sunday Canned Goods for CCCO Well of Life Food Pantry

Nov. 30—Youth Mitten Tree & gift

collection for Candyland at Commercial Street Footbridge

Dec. 1—Gifts for the residents of Ozarks Methodist Manor

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Martha Frazier

Martha has been a faithful member

of Grace Church since she joined

on November 1, 1987.

Recently she was named Resident

of the Month where she resides.

CONGRATULATIONS, MARTHA!

The Langsfords

Breck and Amanda shared this photo of their boys. They are

all in the same school and this is their very first school pic-

ture! What a great photo! They are big guys now. Jake, 4-

years-old, is on the left. Joe, 2-years-old, is in the center,

with 4-year-old Josh on the right.

The Morgans

Haven’t they grown since we first met them?

Henry, left, and Walter have just celebrated their

first birthday.

Stan & Liz Miesner are very proud of their great-

nephews.

UMW NEWS & VIEWS

December 6th UMW will be having their Christmas

Luncheon in Fellowship Hall at 11:30 AM. As in years

past, we will be decorating the tables with gifts for

Crosslines to give to children this Christmas. Our age

group is 0 to 18 months. They suggest toys, clothing or

size 2 diapers. After the luncheon, the gifts will be taken

over to Crosslines. Please bring a cov-

ered dish to share at the lunch.

Remember all the ladies at Grace are

invited and very welcome to attend the

lunch. We hope to see you on the 6th.

~Wanda Young, President

Mike Locke and Rib Crib BBQ & Grill

have generously offered again to pro-

vide delicious smoked brisket for our

Wednesday Night Dinner. You won’t

want to miss dinner on December 14,

it will be delicious! Thank you, Mike

and Rib Crib!

We are thankful for the

generosity of our down-

town neighbor, The

Cup. Those delicious

cupcakes that you so enjoy come from their bakery at

325 East Walnut. They have been such a blessing in

often providing dessert for our Wednesday Night Din-

ner ministry. Thank you, Cup Crew!

Don’t wrap those Christmas Gifts!

Bring them to church!

The Grace Youth will beautifully gift bag your

Christmas presents for you for a love offering.

Saturday, December 10 9 am—12 noon

Saturday, December 17 5 pm—9 pm

Hard to Shop with the Kids?

Our Grace Youth Safe Sanctuary certified

babysitters will watch your children while you

shop. Sorry...can’t help with the dog!

Saturday, December 10 9 am—12 noon

Saturday, December 17 5 pm— 9 pm

Love Offering appreciated.