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Save the Date
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Book Group, Sunday, Nov. 18, 6:00, at the Reeds'
Church Cleaning: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10:00
First Sunday of Advent: Dec. 2; wreath-making after church
Advent Evening Prayer: Wednesdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19: 5:30
Bishop Jack's visit: Dec. 9
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Neighborhood Events
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Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture Exhibit:
through December 2 at the Art Museum
Walker Evans Photography Exhibit:
through January 13 at the Art Museum
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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!
--Beth Reed, Priest-in-charge |
| Sunday, November 18, at Grace | |  Eucharist, refreshments
We celebrate the Eucharist at 10:00.
We continue our reading through the Gospel of Mark; this week we have an apocalyptic section. After the Eucharist, we share refreshments in the gathering space.
We will be glad to have Andrew Reinholz with us; he is a seminarian, sponsored by this parish, and he is hoping to be ordained a deacon soon. He will meet with vestry members after refreshments. |
| Advent Preparations | |  Wreath-making, Wednesday prayer are new this year
Mary Louise Bross has taken initiative with new ideas for how we can keep the season of Advent this year. She talked with the book group about some of her ideas, talked to our priest, and brought the ideas to the vestry meeting on Monday night.
The fruit of those conversations is this: In addition to our Sunday celebrations of the Eucharist, we will try two new practices this Advent. First, on Dec. 2, the First Sunday of Advent, we can make Advent wreaths after church.This could be an especially attractive activity for families with kids. The cost per household will be about $10; Mary Louise will procure supplies (frames, candles, ribbon) and other parishioners will bring greens. We can make wreaths and there will be prayer cards or booklets available so that we can light our wreaths at home and pray some Advent prayers. Second, we will have simple evening prayer on Wednesday evenings at 5:30. These two practices will be ways to keep the holy season of anticipation and longing. While the mainstream culture celebrates Christmas through the whole month of December, the church calendar invites us to a different experience: watching, waiting, pondering what we and the world long for in Jesus, and what we have in fact received. |
| Stewardship | | Here are some pledge numbers
Thank you to all who have brought or mailed pledges. As of last Monday, the parish had received 24 pledges, including three that are new this year. More than half of the pledges increased from last year; this is good news. Our parish operates on a very lean budget. Every pledge is important, and every pledge will contribute to the witness and work we are able to do in downtown Allentown.
If you haven't yet made a pledge, please bring your form to church or mail it in. If you have any questions or concerns about pledging and our church's finances, please share them with a vestry member (the vestry list is in the bulletin every week). If you need a form, pick one up from the back of church or call the parish office at 610-435-0782. |
| Grace Food Pantry | | The Boy Scouts brought a lot! 
The Boy Scouts of the area do a food drive every fall, and our pantry is very grateful for their work and donations.
Last Saturday, local troops brought close to 10,000 pounds of food to us. Director Patty McNamara assembled ten volunteers who worked from 9:00-1:30, sorting and storing the food. Our shelves are full right now, which is a good thing!
For next week (Thanksgiving), the pantry is open Tuesday, and it is closed Friday and Saturday. |
| New Parish Administrator | | Please welcome Hillie Cousart in the office
Hillie Cousart in working in the parish office five mornings a week (8:30-12:30). She brings substantial administrative experience as well as experience in researching and writing grants, and her presence will strengthen the parish's work. She can be reached at 610-435-0782 and at hillie.cousart@graceallentown.org.
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