Grace Episcopal Church  
In This Issue
Sunday Ministers
Birthdays
Sunday Services

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Sunday 

8:00 AM
Celebrant:
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold
Preacher: The Rev. Noah H. Evans  
LEM: 
Mia Benjamin
Usher:  Wesley Foote, Sr. 
Altar Guild:
June Pietrantoni

10:00 AM 
Celebrant:
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold 
Preacher: 
The Rev. Noah H. Evans  
Minister of Music:  Ruth Roper
LEM I:
Agnes Opara  
LEM II: Wes Foote, Jr.   
Lector I*:
Laura Duggan
Lector II*:
Julia Lisella   
Acolytes:
Chioma Opara, Nzube Opara and Emma Maganzini 
Ushers: 
Jane Scherban and Dennis Hale 
Altar Guild
Elaine and Robin Sheets
Healing Ministers:  John Rogers, Rev. Evans, Brenda Pearson and Mia Benjamin  
Coffee Hour Hosts:
Steve Duggan, coffee Ellery Klien and Matt Bell, food 
Counters:
Jane Scherban and Naida Gavrelis  
Vestry Person of the Day:
Sean Kerans

5:00 PM 
Celebrant: The Rev. Noah H. Evans 
Musician 
Cheryl Forest Morganson
Altar Guild
Mia Benjamin 
  
*click on link to prepare for this week's readings  

Birthdays

 

Tracy Gravallese (12/7); Jacob Brazis, Sarah Masciave and Hannah Rogers (12/8); Emma Bowers and Alexander Stinson (12/9); Thomas Dow, Jr. (12/10); Claire Kerans (12/12); Sharen Brown and Jason Finnegan (12/13).

  

If we do not have your birthday, please contact the church office at 781-396-7215 or office@gracemedford.org  
      Welcome
Please join us at
Grace Church!
We celebrate the Eucharist at 8AM, 10AM and 5PM.
 
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold is the Celebrant at the 8AM and 10AM services.  The Rev. Noah H. Evans preaches at the morning services.  The Rev. Noah Evans is the Celebrant and Preacher at the 5 PM service.   Sunday School begins promptly at 9:45 AM.  Nursery care is available at the 10AM service.

There is a newcomers lunch following the 10AM service in the Common Room.

Join the Peace Team for the citywide interfaith Peace Vigil on Wednesday, December 10.  See below for more information.

Medford Interfaith Clergy Gathered for Citywide Thanksgiving Service
Faith leaders from across Medford gathered at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Monday, November 24th for the annual Medford Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. With over 150 people in attendance, this year's service was chaired by Rev. Anthony Jarek-Glidden of First Community Methodist Church.  Over 10 faith leaders from Christian, Jewish and Buddhist traditions participated, each offering a reading, prayer or song from their tradition related to thanksgiving.  Mayor Michael McGlynn opened the gathering with a reading of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation, Medford Cub Scouts, Girl Scout and Boy Scouts led the gathering in the pledge of allegiance and special to this year's event, native Medford poet Terry Carter read several of him poems. This annual event celebrates the amazing diversity of the Medford community as we come together in gratitude for the community and world we share.
The Grace Church Stewardship Campaign
Please turn in your pledge as soon as possible if you haven't already done so.  
To make your 2015 Stewardship Pledge to Grace Church online click here.

To view the 2015 Stewardship Packet on the website, click here.

Please Pay 2014 Annual Pledge Balances by December 31st

Please pay 2014 pledge balances off, and make any Capital Campaign contributions you would like to show on your 2014 statement, by December 31th, 2014. If you need to know either of your pledge balances, or you have questions, please call the parish office at 781-396-7215 or send an email to office@gracemedford.org, or contact our Parish Treasurer, Tom Hamel.
advent wreath making on 11/30

Kid's Corner

 

Christmas Pageant 2014

There will be two ALL CAST Saturday rehearsals from 10 AM to noon on December 6th and 13th.  For information, contact Laura Duggan at LauraRDuggan16@gmail.com.

 

Christmas Pageant and Community Dinner

Saturday, December 13th, 5:00 PM

The Grace Church Christmas Pageant will be held in the Church Sanctuary, on Saturday, December 13th, at 5:00 PM to be followed by a potluck dinner in the Parish Hall with a snow date at the same time on Sunday, December 14th. Celebrate the story of Christ's birth!

 

Following the Pageant there will be a Pot-Luck dinner in the Parish Hall. If you plan to attend the dinner and your last name begins with:

 

A-F      Bring a salad

G-H     Bring bread or appetizer

I-N       Bring side dish (pasta, starch etc.)

O-R     Bring a dessert

S-Z      Bring a main dish

Or just bring something you love!!

 

Friday night youth event on 12/19:

Grace Church is hosting an evening of games and fun for youth, grades 6-12, on Friday, December 19 from 6-10pm. Parent chaperones are Maria Fenn and Linda Rogers. Dinner is not provided, but kids can bring a favorite board game to share.

The next Youth night

Outreach Corner    

 

The next opportunity to help at St. Luke's Community Dining is coming up on December 27th. Please contact Lisa Carson if you can help or if you have questions.

 

Food is needed for the food pantries that Grace Episcopal Church supports. Food items may be placed in the baskets just outside the main entrance to the sanctuary (an usher can help you locate them.)  The item for December 7 is rice.  The item for December 14 is cereal.

 

Giving TreeGiving Tree 2014

Grace Church is partnering with the Medford Family Network (MFN) to provide Christmas presents for Medford families in need.  You can take a star then write your name and which star number you took on the "star list" located below the Giving Tree. You then purchase the item on the star, and place the wrapped gift with the star attached under the tree by Sunday, December 14, 2014. If you cannot get out to go shopping, and would like to participate you can give money towards a giving tree gift. Wrapped gifts will be delivered to MFN in time for Christmas. Contact Linda Rogers for this project at
lindamrogers@netzero.net 

Interfaith Peace Vigil

On Wednesday, December 10th, the Grace Church Peace Team is leading the Medford faith communities in calling for an end to the cultures of violence in our society as we remember the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. In honoring the memories of over 23,000 people and 350 children who have been killed in gun violence since the tragedy on December 14, 2012, we aim to recommit our community to the sacred task of building pathways to peace. The event will feature musical performances, a ceremony honoring the Newtown victims, prayers for peace from diverse faith traditions in Medford, and a candlelit procession and vigil. A community pizza dinner will be served at 5:30pm in the Parish Hall before we join the rest of the community at Medford City Hall for the interfaith peace vigil event from 6:30-7:30pm. There will be no 5:30PM classes that evening.   To participate in the moving ceremony or to submit a poster design to display at the event, contact Jeff Pietrantoni at jpietrantoni9@aol.com or Mia at mia@gracemedford.org.

 

Wednesdays at Grace

5:30: younger children's Godly Play classes

6:00: Community Dinner

6:45: older children's classes

Adult Education- 6:45-8:00PM

Trivia Tournament

For our last Wednesdays at Grace (Wednesday, December 17th) of 2014, join us for an intergenerational trivia tournament, for adults and children of all ages! Compete to see who has the most knowledge about our Christian tradition and the Bible, earning glory for your team and helping farmers in need around the world. Bring your change jar from home and play for money to donate to Heifer International. Win a flock of chicks for a family in Bangladesh, or a hive of honeybees for a Guatemalan family. Test your skill and do some good! There will be no 5:30PM classes that evening.

 

Mary Magdalene in the Christian Tradition

Wednesday, January 14, 21 and 28 - 6:45pm

Led by the Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold

Would you like to know more about this mysterious figure at the heart of the Gospels? She was the friend of Jesus and the first witness of the resurrection, yet she has also often been identified as a prostitute. Learn who started that rumor, and about the history of how Christians have talked about this woman as sinner, saint, preacher, mystic, and even as Jesus' wife.

 

Save the Date! 

Visit by the Rt. Rev. Alan Gates

January 7, 2015

Bishop Alan Gates will come to Wednesdays at Grace on January 7, 2015.

Other Announcements     

 

Grace Church Arts & Crafts Fair 

December 6th from 9-1 in the Wiles Hall.

Calling all artists and crafters, please contact Cheryl Woodbury by email at woodburyc@comcast.net to reserve a table. Tables are limited and are only $20 payable to Grace Episcopal Church. Please spread the word to family and friends.

      

Newcomer Lunch, Sunday, December 7

Are you new(er) to Grace Church? We would like to have you join us for an informal lunch in the Common Room following the 10AM service. It will give you a chance to meet other newer members of the parish and some long-timers, too! If you would like to attend, please email margaret.smist@gracemedford.org  by Thursday, December 4. Just let us know how many people are attending so we can plan accordingly. We are looking forward to seeing you.

 

Global Vigil for a Climate Agreement

Sunday, December 7th, 5 PM- 5:45 PM -- Faneuil Hall Square, Boston

World leaders are gathering in Lima, Peru, to pursue a climate agreement to protect us from climate change. They need our support. Join us and others around the world. Catherine Smith is organizing a group from Grace Church to attend. Meeting at the Wellington T Stop at 4:20 pm on December 7th and bring your children and friends.   For more information: smith.catherine@epa.gov

 

Cosponsored by: Franciscan Action Network, First Parish Church in Cambridge, Jewish Climate Action Network , Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ, Mass Interfaith Power and Light 

 

20's & 30's Fellowship

The 20/30s Fellowship group will be meeting at 6:00pm in the Parish Hall on Sunday, December

7th. You are also invited to attend the 5pm service beforehand. To sign up to bring broth, bread, or soup ingredients email Mia at mia@gracemedford.org or friend her on Facebook to get added to our Facebook group!

  

Christmas Caroling Party  

Grace Church will be throwing a Christmas caroling celebration for our neighbors at the Medford Rehab and Nursing Center on December 14 at 2:00pm! If you'd like to be involved in planning the party contact Mia at  mia@gracemedford.org.     

 

Book Club

The Women's Book Club meets every third Thursday, except in August, at 7 pm. Any woman is welcome to attend any meeting. On December 18 we're watching a movie, Big Night, starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub. We're also having a pot luck and Yankee Book swap; bring a new or used book. On January 15 we're readingBy Nightfallby Michael Cunningham. For more information, see Genita at the 10 am church service or email her at  pawleyslegacy@verizon.net.

 

Interested in the Altar Guild?

Are you interested in worship?   Do you enjoy the beauty of the church seasons? If you are, please consider attending one of our Altar Guild trainings in December. It would be a good way to see if this is a ministry you may be called to.

 

Reverend Maggie will be meeting with the Guild following the 10 am service on both Sunday, December 14 and 21.   You only need to attend one of the days, and if you are interested in becoming part of the Guild you can speak to Margaret Smist