Children and Youth

GUMC Operating Budget Contributions and Worship Attendance

PERIOD September

YTD

Fiscal Year 2015

Anticipated Income

$1,543,510

ANTICIPATED RECEIPTS

$1,050,762

ACTUAL RECEIPTS

$1,031,019

VARIANCE

($19,743)

ATTENDANCE Oct. 31/Nov. 1 699 Nov. 7/8 338 Nov. 14/15 547 Nov. 21/22 464 Nov. 28/29 482

Worship attendance will be updated weekly. Thank you for your commitment to your pledges

and to the life and future of Grace Church.

Look at All the Ways to Help! Turn In Trinity UMC Christmas Gi s (see front page) Blood Dona ons Tomorrow (see “For Your Informa on”) Got Unwanted Christmas Lights? Donate them to Boy Scout Troop 555, as they are again collec ng unused Christmas lights (working or not) this year and taking them to a recycling center. Boxes are outside Fellowship Hall; simply drop your lights in them, now through Monday, January 11. Dona ons to Heifer Project Con nue Today The Grace Hunger team is in the

Ac vity Center in collec on of dona ons to Heifer Interna-onal today and on December 13 and 20. The Heifer Pro-

ject is based on the premise that it is more important to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish. People eve-rywhere need a "a hand up, not a hand out." Thus begins our season of symbolically "selling" animals to the people

of the world. Dona ons can be made in honor of someone special; cards are available so that honorees will know you’ve thought of them. What a unique, special, and difference-making Christmas gi ! Please contact Vera McDonald for further informa on at 630-527-0871. Invite Someone To Be With You At Christmas Christmas can be a very sad me of year for those who have lost loved ones or are remembering happier years at Christmas me. Reach out to someone who may be lonely or grieving this me of year, and invite them to your home for dinner or company during the upcoming holidays. Where Have All the Ushers Gone? Several of our dependable ushers have retired and/or moved, and we are in need of 25 more to fill their places. This is a one-service-per-month commitment, plus some additional Advent and Lent services. If you’re interested in helping this vital ministry—women, men or responsible young adults—please sign up today in the Activity Center, or contact BobOwensby at 630-416-4513 or rowensby3@gmail.com. 11:00am Communion Clean-Up Beginning in January, Dianne Calhoun is in need of someone who regularly attends our 11:00 a.m. service to stay for a few minutes after worship on the first Sunday of the month to clean up the communion elements. This involves washing and putting away the four gob-lets and the glass bread try. Please contact Dianne at diannecal-houn@wideopenwest.com if you can help or would like more information. “Holiday Shoppe” Needs Dona ons for Family Shelter Service Benefi ng Family Shelter Service, Holiday Shoppe is an opportunity to share the joy of the holiday season with vic ms of domes c violence and their chil-dren. Make a difference in the lives of those seeking to escape violence by dona ng gi cards, new and unwrapped toys, or make a cash dona on online at www.fssevents.org. Dona on sugges ons are: Gi cards for Target, Wal-Mart, grocery stores, Walgreens, Kohl’s, and gas cards. Suggested items are: warm hats, scarves and mi ens, baby toys, children’s books in English and Spanish, puzzles, educa onal toys and games, Lego’s, blocks, arts and cra s supplies, spor ng equipment and games (especially soccer balls), dolls repre-sen ng Caucasian, black and La na ethnici es, youth jewelry, pay-as-you-go phones, movie ckets. Please, no violent toys, guns (including Nerf and water guns), swords or other weapons. Drop-off dates are Thursday/Friday, Decem-ber 10 (4:00-7:00 p.m.) and December 11 (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) to Family Shel-ter Service Counseling Center at 7300 S. Main St. in Downers Grove.

‘Tis the Season! S

“Gift of Love” Christmas Benefit Concert Dec. 20 Our annual “Gi of Love” benefit concert will be presented in one offering only on Sunday, December 20, 3:00 p.m. in the Grace Sanctuary. This glori-ous event, benefi ng Erin Powell’s work with “Hope For All” (reaching and including people with disabili es in Rwanda), will feature a visual montage of Erin’s mission and music from the Fes val Singers, bells, children’s choir, professional orchestra, Alliance Brass ensemble, and the unique string styl-ings of “UnBande.” Tickets are $20/adults; $18 /seniors 65+; $10/students; $50 max. per immediate family, available online at peopleofgrace.org/concerts. Hard copy ckets are available through Dan Wagner (630-355-1748, ext. 3232, or dan.wagner@peopleofgrace.org).

First Sunday Worship Today! Please gather in your respec ve classrooms, and we’ll all sit in worship together. If you’d like to join your family in worship, that’s great too—parents and siblings can sit with us up front, or feel free to join your family in your favorite pew! Christmas Eve Service Opportuni es Please contact Pastor Tammy or Gaye Lynn if you would like to par cipate as a reader, usher or greeter for the 7:00 p.m. Christ-mas Eve service. Care Packages For College Students The College Care Package Ministry is s ll ac-cep ng addresses for our next mailing during the holiday season. Please forward your child’s college address (home or away) to the youth office at rglbhl@aol.com. Turn In Your Permission Slips for DuPage AME Trip Senior high, junior high and confirma on students will be a ending worship at the DuPage AME church in Lisle on Sunday, January 10. Permission slips are located in respec ve Sunday School clas-ses or outside the youth office in the white shelves. Divers/chaperones needed. College/Young Adult Sunday School Class Many of our college students are home during the holidays. We’re excited to see them and hear about their experi-ences away from home. We’re also excited to offer them the chance to come to our newly formed col-lege/young adults Sunday School class, “Coming Home,” led by Brentley Loufek and Caleb Henderson, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 224. Join us, and bring your friends! C C Next parent class is next Sunday, December 13, joining with confirmands for a lesson on the Sacraments...Enrichment journaling: all should be reading and journaling from the Gospel of Mark through 15 and 16, due Decem-ber 20...Confirma on Lock-Up is on Saturday, January 30, 4:00-9:00 p.m.

CHILDREN (AGES 2 YEARS OLD THROUGH 5TH GRADE): MARGARET HARRISON 630-355-1748, EXT. 3241; MARGARET.HARRISON@PEOPLEOFGRACE.ORG YOUTH (GRADES 6 THROUGH 12): GAYE LYNN LOUFEK 630-355-1748,

EXT. 3234; GAYELYNN.LOUFEK@PEOPLEOFGRACE.ORG

Wed. night gym on break December 9 - January 13

JUNIOR SINGERS GO A-CAROLING NEXT SUNDAY! Would Someone You Love Like a Visit? Our Junior Singers will go caroling to the homes of people in our church family next Sunday, December 13. If you or someone you know would like them to visit,

please contact Lynn Leitzen at 630-355-1748, ext. 3249, or dandlleitzen@aol.com.

H W S S , D 5 19, L N S ( ).

Longest Night Service Dec. 21, 7:30pm Christmas is not always a merry me for those grieving or experiencing loss of any kind. Please join this service of quiet reflec on, comfort, and healing.

For Your Information Grace in Mission

Front and Center Announcements for the People of Grace December 5 and 6, 2015

In Memory of Ralph Kaiser In recogni on of World AIDS Days today, the Grace Health and Wellness Commi ee is sending a dona on of $250 to the Maua Method-ist Hospital outreach program in Kenya. Our Kenya Mission team works very closely with this program, which provides help to families devastated by AIDS. Ralph Kaiser was Chair of our Religion and Race Commission and worked relessly to bring a en-

on and help to those affected by AIDS, poverty, and injus ce. Give Blood Tomorrow: The Priceless Gi of Life The Christmas season is one of joy, but unfortunately, it’s also a me of high need for blood dona ons. Please donate blood tomorrow, December 7, 3:30-7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Sign up for a con-venient me slot at www.peopleofgrace.org/blood-drive-dec-2015. Lenten Booklet Contribu ons Wanted By December 15! Our Grace family and

friends are invited to contribute to our 2016 Lenten devo ons booklet, themed “See, I Am Doing a New Thing!”. Some mes, in a tradi on as long-prac ced as Chris anity, we lose sight of all the newness that God pours into our world and into our lives. Some of the stories we’re hoping to see might tell of when or how God has done a new thing for you. Or, perhaps

you’ve discovered an old thing that has spring back into new life for you? These are merely sugges ons for this booklet, comprised of original wri ngs, poems, drawings and photographs from our own Grace family. All are welcome (kids, too!) to contrib-ute. If you would like to offer a devo on for one of the days of Lent (beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 10), there guidelines in the church office to help you get started. Please e-mail your devo ons to Merrill Litchfield by December 15 (barmerlitchfield@msn.com), or turn them in to the office, including your name. No anonymous submissions can be accepted, please. Hope For the Holidays Give your spirit a gi this Christmas season by joining a

worldwide effort to claim the hope of the season in a simple, interac-ve, devo onal community. To connect, visit Pastor Ma hew John-

son’s Por co Collec ve online community at 40days.por co.collec ve.org. Flyers about this ini a ve are on the welcome desk in the Narthex and in the church office.

Begin the New Year With Peace Our congrega on is welcome and encouraged to a end a World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer service on Sunday, January 3, 2:00 p.m. at Wentz Auditorium in downtown Naperville. This service will be a much needed an dote to the growing fear, ignorance and hatred being spread by so many poli cal and religious demagogues, who seek to appeal to the worst in mankind to enhance their power and standing. Looking For a New Career Path? Grace member and career networking professional Thatch Irwin is pleased to share his exper se with our Grace family members. Please contact him at 630-961-3804 or rwin@wideopenwest.com.

Studies and Groups Over 50 Fellowship This Thursday! Our Grace Over 50 Fel-lowship is this Thursday, December 10, featuring catered lunch at noon, followed by a program from Elaine Pauls, who will share her na vity sets. Please reserve your spot with the church office (630-355-1748) by Tuesday, December 8, at noon. Cost for lunch is $10, payable at the door.

Women’s Circles Ruth will meet this Wednesday, December 9, 9:15 a.m. at Char Schwabero’s, featuring a program from Pastor Tammy Sco ...Priscilla will meet for a Christmas potluck dinner on Tuesday, December 15, 6:30 p.m. at Ruth Wills’. UMW Book Group United Methodist Women invite all women readers to join their monthly book group, mee ng next on Wednesday, January 27, 12:45 p.m. in the Fireside Room to discuss All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.

Sunday 6 8:15am-12:00pm-Sunday Morning Worship-Sanctuary 9:00-11:30am-”Christmas Around the World” Market-

Ac vity Center 12:15-1:30pm-Youth Choir Rehearsal-Sanctuary 5:00-7pm-Youth Bells Rehearsal-Room 160 Monday 7 8:30-9:30am-Moms In Prayer-Room 232 9:00-10am-Temple Builders-Ac vity Center 9:00am-1:00pm-PDO-Lower level classrooms 9:30-11am-UMW Quilters-Fireside Room 1:00-2:30pm-Sisters Bible Study-Room 254 2:00-7pm-WSEA Tutoring-Rooms 224-227, 232 3:00-4pm-Prayer Ministry-Chapel 3:30-7:30pm-Blood Drive-Fellowship Hall 7:00-8:15pm-Healing Flow Yoga-Chapel 7:00-8:30pm-Progressive Chris anity-Room 254 7:15-8:30pm-Scout Troop #555-Ac vity Center Tuesday 8 8:30-9:30am-Moms In Prayer-Room 232 9:00am-1:00pm-PDO-Lower level classrooms 9:15-11am-PDO Board Mee ng-Rooms 224, 225 10:00am-12:00pm-La Leche League-Room 231 10:30am-11:30pm-Staff Mee ng-Room 254 2:00-7pm-WSEA Tutoring-Rooms 224-227, 232 6:00-7pm-Happy Feet Soccer-Ac vity Center 6:00-9pm-YWCA - ED-Room 231 6:15-7pm-Stephen Leaders-Room 254 7:00-9pm-Stephen Ministry-Room 254 7:00-9pm-Adult Faith Forma on-Conference Room 7:00-9:30pm-Riverwalk Quilters Guild-Fellowship Hall 7:15-8:45pm-Grace Praise Team Rehearsal-Sanctuary 7-30-9pm-Alanon Mee ng-Room 232 Wednesday 9 9:00-10am-Temple Builders-Ac vity Center 9:00am-1:00pm-PDO-Lower level classrooms 12:00-2pm-Recep onists’ Apprecia on Luncheon-

Fellowship Hall 2:00-7pm-WSEA Tutoring-Rooms 224-227 4:00-5pm-Children’s Bell Ensemble Rehearsal-Room 160 5:00-6pm-Junior Singers Rehearsal-Room 171 5:00-6pm-Angelus Choir Rehearsal-Room 231 5:00-6pm-Cherub Choir Rehearsal-Room 232 5:00-6pm-Por co Collec ve Small Group-Room 234 7:00-8:15pm-Grace Bell Ensemble Reh.-Room 160 7:15-8:30pm-New Life Singers Rehearsal-Room 161 Thursday 10 9:00am-1:00pm-PDO-Lower level classrooms 9:30-11am-Disciple IV Bible Study-Room 254 12:00-2pm-Over 50 Fellowship-Fellowship Hall 2:00-7pm-WSEA Tutoring-Rooms 224-227, 232 6:45-7:30pm-Chamber Singers Reh.-Ac vity Center 7:00-8pm-Bap sm Class-Fireside Room 7:30-9pm-Chancel Choir Rehearsal-Sanctuary 7:30-9pm-CoDA Mee ng-Room 224 Friday 11 9:00-10am-Temple Builders-Ac vity Center 9:00am-1:00pm-PDO-Lower level classrooms 5:00-9pm-360 Youth Services-Fellowship Hall 5:30-9pm-Piano Recital-Sanctuary and Narthex Saturday 12 8:45-11am-Cantata Rehearsal-Sanctuary 9:00am-12:00pm-WSEA Tutoring-Rooms 224, 225, 232 5:00-6pm-Saturday Evening Worship-Sanctuary Features New Life Singers’ Christmas Cantata Sunday 13 8:15am-12:00pm-Sunday Morning Worship-Sanctuary 8:15 and 9:30 feature New Life Singers’ Christmas

Cantata 10:45am-12:00pm-Vision Team Mee ng-Conf. Room 11:00am-2:00pm-Christmas With Trinity-Sanctuary and

Fellowship Hall 12:15-1:30pm-Youth Choir Rehearsal-Sanctuary 5:00-7pm-Youth Bells Rehearsal-Room 160

CHILDREN/YOUTH CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Nursery Care-8:15 am-12:00 pm: Infants-Room 130 Toddlers-Room 131 Children-9:30 am: 9:30-9:45am - K-5th gr. gathers in Fellowship Hall, or as posted Two’s (2 by Sep. 1, 2015)-Room 134 Preschool (3 or 4 by Sep. 1, 2015)-Room 137 Kindergarten and 1st grade - Room 122 2nd and 3rd grade - Room 152 4th grade - Room 154 5th grade - Room 155 Children-11:00 am: “Gather Together” (age K-3rd grade)-Begins in Sanc-tuary, moves to Room 231 Youth-9:30 am: Jr. High Grades 6-8-Room 233 Sr. High Grades 9-12-Room 234 8th Grade Confirma on-Room 231 ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 9:30 am: Hearts On Fire-Room 250-”Why This Jubilee?,” through December 20 Forum-Fireside Room-”Awai ng the Already: The World As It Is,” Rev. Cindy Marino; next week: “Not a Silent Night,” Rev. Ki y Ganzel, through December 27 Questors-Room 254-“Ge ng Ready for Christmas,” Rev. Bill Bryan; next week: “Music of the Season” New Connec ons-Room 226 Confirma on Parents-Room 232-Next class is December 13 11:00am: OHM-Room 232-“Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture” (Walter Brueggemann) New Member Classes - Contact Sharon Ferguson at 630-355-1748, ext. 3223, or sharon.ferguson@peopleofgrace.org

Grace in Mission is a Communica ons Ministry of:

Grace United Methodist Church 300 E. Gartner Road Naperville, IL 60540

630-355-1748 www.peopleofgrace.org

News for Grace in Mission must be received by Wednesdays at 1:00

p.m. Please limit news to a maximum of 60 words, and please

submit news to Barb Ceru at barb.ceru @peopleofgrace.org;

630-355-1748, ext. 3240; or drop in the church office,

ATTN: Barb.

This Week’s CALENDAR

World Market in the Activity Center Today! Shop for unique, hand-made items from ar sans across the world today, December 6, 9:00-11:30 a.m. in the Ac vity Center. (Note: it is best to arrive prior to the 11:00 a.m. worship to ensure an opportunity to visit all ven-dors.) Vendors this year include North Central College’s SIFE (items from Costa Rica); Ten Thousand Villages (various coun-tries); Beads of Hope (Africa); War Chest (India and others); Pal-es nian olive wood cra s; and our own Fair Trade products. The purchase of these items directly benefits the people who cra ed them. What a wonderful gi !

Next Sunday: Christmas With Trinity - joliet Thanks to those who have purchased gifts for children at Trinity UMC. If you have not already done so, you may drop your wrapped gift(s) in the church office today. Next Sunday, De-cember 13, we’ll worship with these children and their families at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch, Christ-mas music, and gift giving in Fellowship Hall.

Christmas Cantata Next Weekend! Get into the holiday spirit next Saturday, December 12, at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 8:15 and 9:30 a.m. in worship, when the New Life Singers, Grace Bells and instrumentalists will pre-sent a joyous Christmas cantata of be-loved carols. Be sure to bring a friend!