Grace Episcopal Church  
In This Issue
Sunday Ministers
Birthdays

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

10:00 AM
Celebrant: 
The Rev. Noah H. Evans
Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold   
Minister of Music:
Ruth Roper   
LEM I:
Rochenet Joseph 
LEM II:
Kate Woodward 
Lector I*:
Esther Brownsmith 
Lector II*:
Barbara Povey 
Acolytes:
Becca Spence, Tori Spence and Jackson Hughes-Page 
Ushers:
Don Capuccio and Jill Capuccio   
Altar Guild
Olivia Bracken
Healing Ministers:  Mia Benjamin, The Rev. Maggie Arnold, Margaret Smist and Carrie Cross
Vestry Person of the Day:
Catherine Smith   
Coffee Hour Hosts:  
Vin Maganzini, coffee  
Counters:
Don Capuccio and Steve Duggan
 
5:00 PM
Celebrant and Preacher: 
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold 
Altar Guild Carolyn Rogers and Mia Benjamin

*click on link to prepare for this week's readings
Birthdays

Clarence Ligon, III (12/6); Tracy Gravellese (12/7); Jacob Brazis, Sarah Masciave and Hannah Rogers (12/8); Emma Bowers and Alexander Stinson (12/9); Thomas Dow, Jr. (12/10); and Claire Kerans (12/12).
 
 
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!
The Services this week are Sunday at 8 AM, 10 AM and 5 PM.  Our Sunday School classes begin at 9:45 AM.  Nursery care is available   The children will join the service to celebrate the Eucharist.
The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold reflects on hospitality.
"We can see many different examples of women offering hospitality in the Bible.  The Hebrew Bible presents a series of stories with a common formula: a woman offers hospitality and that gains her..." read more
You still have time to make a pledge to Grace Church for 2016.  You can fill out the online pledge form here.  Paper pledge cards are available on the bulletin board in Wiles Hall.

Did you know that you could make a gift to Grace Church by credit card right from the website?  click here for online giving. Fill in a fund and the amount you would like to give to begin. 
See The Rev. Noah Evans' invitation to a future church. "The Church year begins again each year in Advent.  Advent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Jesus' coming at Christmas as anticipate Jesus' joyful return.  It is a season of looking back, and also looking forward with a future hope. Last spring, when our organ was removed for restoration, behind the pipes and wind chambers was discovered..." read more 
David Wallace, our organ restorer, stopped by on November 20th to give an update on the work and to take a look at the progress on our space. 
We have  confirmed a  date of Tuesday, January 12, 2016 for the re-installation of the organ to begin.  The work will take 3-4 weeks to complete.  We are excited that this project is nearing completion, and that soon enough we will have organ again for our worship.  You can follow the organ restoration progress on the Grace Church restoration blog. 
Outreach Corner 
The next opportunity to help at St. Luke's Community Dining in Chelsea is December 26.  Please contact Lisa Carson with any questions or to volunteer to help. 
 
Food is needed for the food pantries that Grace Episcopal Church supports. The items for The items for December 6 are coffee or tea.  The item for December 13 is canned soup.

Remember that "Giving Tree" gifts are due by Sunday, December 13.   Celebrate our gifts by giving.

Wednesdays @ Grace
Toddler Godly Play class - 5:30-6:30
Godly Play 1-Preschool-Kindergarten,   5:30-6:15
Godly Play 2-Grades 1-2,   5:30-6:15
Dinner,   6-6:45
Child-care for children through 2nd grade, 6:45-8
Bible Class (grades 3-4), 6:45-8
Rite 13 youth group (grades 5-7), 6:45-8
J2A youth group (grades 8-9), 6:45-8
Adult Education classes, 6:45-8
 
December 9 at 6:45 PM 
Led by Mia Benjamin, Life Together intern
The Annunciation to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) 
Who is Jesus's dad? What's up with the church teaching that Jesus is a direct descendant of David through Joseph and also claiming Joseph wasn't involved in his conception? Is Joseph Jesus's father? Or is God?

December 16 at 6:45 PM 
The Annunciation of Mary in Art 
led by The Rev. Dr. Maggie Arnold 
Join us to survey some of the most beautiful images of the visual arts, as a young girl encounters the divine and learns of the role she will play in God's salvation for her people and all of Creation. read more 
Other Announcements
 
Craft Fair at Grace Church 
Saturday, December 5 from 9 AM to 1:00 PM  
read more

Help Respond to the Refugee Crisis
The war in Syria is internally displacing millions of people and causing a wave of refugees to leave the country in desperate search for safety.  We need to help, but what should our response be?  If you are interested in shaping our response to the refugee crisis, please come to a meeting at Grace Church on Sunday, December 6 at 4:00.  You may also contact Catherine Smith at smith.viggiani@comcast.net.

We are Christmas Caroling at Medford Rehab on
December 13 at 2:30 PM.  Bring your family to spread some cheer!

Book Club
The Women's Book Club meets every third Thursday at 7PM.  December 17- the movie Desk Set, a 1957 romantic comedy with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy; January 21 -The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown; For more information, see Genita Johnson at the 10 am church service or email her at  
pawleyslegacy@verizon.net.

The Grace Church Christmas Pageant will be Saturday, Dec. 19th at 5pm, with a community potluck to follow (snow date Dec. 20).
 
Blue Christmas Service, December 20 at 5PM
Grace Church is offering a special "Blue Christmas" service; a service of remembrance, hope and healing. Everyone, regardless of faith and/or church background (or lack thereof) is welcome. For more information, contact the church office at (781) 396-7215 or at office@gracemedford.org 
 
Christmas Eve Services
ALL ARE WELCOME!
December 24, 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Grace Church will gather for our celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve, December 24th with services at 4:00 PM (service for Children and Families) and 7:00 PM (Candlelight with Choir).
 
Christmas Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 27th at 10:00AM
Join us as we continue to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas!