Welcome to the weekly e-newsletter of Grace Episcopal Church. Read about what's happening at Grace, and use the quick links to the left to find other helps to our life with God. To share this news with a friend, click the "forward email" link at the bottom of the page. See you Sunday!

For the full readings, click on "Sunday Scripture texts" (above left).

After the service, we'll gather for refreshments and then for the Congregational Forum.  

 

 

Scripture passages for each day are printed in the back of the Sunday bulletin. These psalms and passages are read across our larger church; that is, they form one way our Anglican communion prays together. In public and for individual devotion, Anglicans across the world meditate on the same texts each day.Texts are assigned to the morning and the evening. 

What could be different about our life with God if we spent ten minutes at the beginning and the end of the day with these passages? If this practice is new to you, you may prefer simply to rest with one passage at a time. 

 

Daily scripture texts can also be accessed from the link at the top left of this page. 

You may find apps for iPhones helpful: Lectionary ($.99) has all the Sunday texts, and from within that app, for another $1.99, you can access the texts for daily prayer. 

Some Grace parishioners plan to participate in this event next Saturday, including Professor Kelly Denton-Borhaug, who will speak at the supper that closes the day, and Beth Reed (and everyone is welcome). Kelly's presentation is "De-escalating U.S. War Culture: A Primer for Peace Advocates."

 

This is from the event brochure:

 

"For 50 years, during the Christmas season, people who believe in the importance of peace have been gathering in Nazareth to walk the ten miles to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This pilgrimage, symbolic of the journey of Mary and Joseph, provides all of us, those who walk, those who pass us on the highway and even those who just read about the walk in the Sunday paper, with an opportunity to think about what Christmas really means. Spend this one afternoon dwelling on the message of Peace and Light to the world. Come, walk with your family and friends, and make new friends who seek a more peaceful world. If you are concerned about your ability to complete the ten-mile walk you should know that there are both frequent rest stops and relief transportation."

 

The day ends with carols on the steps of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, and then supper and Kelly's presentation at the United Church of Christ nearby. For more information, check the LEPOCO site.

It's commonplace to note the huge contrasts between our culture's definition of Christmas (and exploitation of it for commercial purposes) and what we find in the gospels and the heart of our Tradition. 

Here are some online resources for resisting cultural pressures to spend extravagantly:

December 18, after the Eucharist, we will "green" the church for Christmas. Children, young people, and adults are all needed and welcome; there are tasks for all. We decorate our huge wreath, drape garland, set out candles, and string lights on trees. John Adamson and other musicians (children especially) provide some Christmas carols. It's a lot of fun.

December 17, Saturday morning, volunteers will be needed to prepare for the greening. We will begin at 9:00.

Out of five people in the family of Merce and Mike Fegley, four of them play Cratchits in the Allentown Civic Theatre's A Christmas Carol. Oakes is Tiny Tim, August is an older daughter, Merce is Mrs. Cratchit, and Mike is Mr. Cratchit. Julia Reed is a singing urchin. Performances run from Dec. 2 through Dec. 17.