Sunday Programs Begin for Children & Youth

Godly Play meets every Sunday starting at 10:15am in the room across from the Commons. All children are encouraged to participate and will join the service at the time of receiving communion. See Rev. Christopher if you have questions.
Children are also welcome and encouraged to participate in our services of worship and the fellowship that follows, with Pew Pals available for them to use during the service.

The nursery space in the lower level is also staffed and available for kids ages 4 and under.

 

YOUTH GROUP DURING ADVENT
Sundays, Dec 7 & 21, Noon-1:30pm
This season Grace youth will continue in the Journey to Adulthood program, exploring the theme of “Welcoming the Christ.” In the spirit of making space and preparing room, our youth will also be preparing their own physical space – the youth room – for holy encounters with God and one another as the renewal continues.

The Annual Youth Christmas Party will be on Sunday, December 21st with more information to come

As part of our coming together as a youth community, we are also using this season to establish new communication patterns with the messsge app GroupMe. GroupMe is an app that helps you create group chats that work across multiple phone brands and that have special capacities like creating announcements or surveys or even collaborative photo albums (like after the group retreat this winter!). The goal is to have Grace youth join this if comfortable for themselves and their family so that we can stay in touch between meetings, and so that everyone feels included.

To join in, click HERE. Reach out to Julia Hopkins with any questions or issues if they arise!

If you have questions, ideas, or contributions regarding resources and Grace’s Outreach and Social Justice Ministries, you can always reach out to Elizabeth Brubaker and/or  Rev. Christopher Roe.  

ANNUAL WARMTH DRIVE
November 23 through December 21

This season Grace will be gathering items and supporting ministries that keep bodies warm – inside and out. We will be collecting items for Community Action House’s, Refresh: Hygiene and Hope ministry, hosted by First United Methodist Church. Items needed are: canisters of hot chocolate, bags of coffee, and boxes of tea as well as adult-sized gloves, mittens (waterproof, durable preferred), hats, socks, coats and snow pants (waterproof, durable preferred,) washable blankets, emergency thermal blankets, and hand warmers (regular and 72 hr.) Please bring donations to the Commons or Church Office through December 20th and we will get these gifts to people in need! Read more about Refresh ministry here.

We’re also raising awareness and inviting participation in First United Methodist’s Warming Center which opens overnight during extreme cold, November through March. FUMC provides trained Lead Coordinators, and they’re reaching out to the greater community to help serve as needed on nights that will be broken up into three shifts. For those who are interested in serving at the Warming Center, please contact Jan at moreshelterholland@gmail.com.

Vestry 2025

This year’s pledge drive is underway!  As we reach toward our goal, every gift given in support of the mission and ministry of Grace Church makes a difference. When we offer ourselves and our gifts and allow the Spirit to work on us and through us for the sake of this world which God so loves, light shines!  Together, we become grace. Through worship, fellowship, programs of formation, outreach, fellowship, and congregational care, light shines among us and out into a world desperate for signs of hope. Your presence, your prayers, and the gifts you offer make all of that possible.

Pledges make up over seventy percent of Grace’s operating budget with other revenue coming from special holiday offerings, non-pledge giving, and the annual planned draws from both the Heiberg Bequest and the Grace Endowment Fund. Hitting our pledge goal for 2026 will allow Grace to maintain our current ministries and facilities, sustain a strong staff, support the growth we’re experiencing, and continue to reach out and give beyond ourselves with hope and with love.

Pledge cards be can be submitted electronically here. Hard copies have also been mailed out to some and are available to all in the Church Commons and Office. Those can be returned to the Office or placed in an offertory plate on Sunday mornings.  Vestry asks that pledges be submitted as soon as possible to help us prepare for the new year. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions.  We are grateful for every gift.

With gratitude and hope,
 
Rev. Jen

The Rev. Jennifer Adams, Rector