
Grace Merchandise
If you were in church the last few Sundays you may have noticed there is Grace merch available for purchase! The next couple of Sundays a team will be selling short sleeve shirts for $15, long sleeve “Pride shirts” for $25, and a crewneck sweatshirt for $35! If you want one be sure to bring cash or a check on Sunday morning. We also accept PayPal! And for those who got merch on at Novemberfest, if you haven’t paid yet, please make sure you bring your payment to the team on the next couple of Sundays that they are there!
Advent Grace Reads 2023, Wednesdays at 10:30am
Light from Afar, An Advent Devotional from Around the World
Advent is celebrated differently throughout the world. Some cultures barely observe the waiting and focus on the Christmas celebration. Others feel deeply the contrast between present circumstances and God’s promise of a better future, making for a season of fasting and prayer. All of them focus on Christ as the Light of the world.
Light from Afar is a daily Advent devotional that illuminates the season through the unforgettable stories and reflections of four writers from around the world. Authors Nadiyka Gerbish (Ukraine), Joel Bengbeng (Philippines), Cláudio Carvalhaes (Brazil), and Sidwell Mokgothu (South Africa) share cultural and religious traditions of the Advent season in their daily reflections. Each day’s meditation includes a scripture reading, a prayer, an opportunity for reflection, and a link to a song from the author’s home country.
The light of the star of Bethlehem has spread around the world. The people who have heard the good news have stories to tell and traditions to share. By joining with Christians from different cultures and countries in prayer, we can experience the hope, love, joy, and peace of Advent, leading ultimately to Immanuel–God with us–on Christmas day. Books are available in the commons.
Meeting and Reading Schedule:
December 6, Having read the First Week of Advent – ‘Light from Brazil’
December 13, Having read the Second Week of Advent – ‘Light from the Philippines’
December 20, Having read the Third Week of Advent – ‘Light from Ukraine’
Week four we will do on our own continuing to use the ‘Guide for Small Groups’ at the end of the book.
Please e-mail Mary Huisman at maryhuisman47@gmail.com to register!
December Creation Care
Click here for more info!
On-Going Events & Ministries:
Nursery
Our nursery services are available every Sunday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, with staff providing a safe space for kids aged 0-4 years.
Growing into Worship (GIW)
GIW is back and continuing every Sunday (with exceptions of high feast days such as All Saints’ Day, Christmas Eve and Pentecost), we invite children aged 5 – 10 to gather at the back pew of the sanctuary at the start of the 10:30 am service and travel together downstairs to experience their own kid-friendly liturgy. We rejoin the congregation during the passing of the peace for the sharing in Holy Communion.
Youth Group (formerly “Middle School Meet”)
Youth aged 6th – 10th grade are invited to Grace’s regular youth group gatherings. We will meet on the first and third Sunday of every month from 12:00 – 2:00 pm in the youth room.
Families
Families are invited to quarterly events to connect with other families for fellowship and fun. Fall: Trunk-or-Treat, Winter: Tubing, Spring: Bowling and White Caps, and Summer: Mini-Golf. Details for each event will go out as they get closer.
Up-Coming Events:
Acolyte Training: December 10, 12:00 – 1:00
(For ages 3rd grade and up – individuals and family teams are welcome!)
Acolytes are the people who serve in the red robes during worship, lead our processions with a cross, torches and gospel and help us pray! All who are currently serving as acolytes or are interested in doing do are invited to an Acolyte training session on Sunday, December 10, after the 10:30 service. Grab a quick snack at coffee hour and then join us! If you aren’t sure if you’d like to serve, but are curious, this can also be a time to check out the ministry of Acolyting and see if it is for you! Please RSVP to Sarah Shea.
Youth Group Christmas Party: December 17, 12:00 – 2:00
“Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and SYRUP” are the main food groups of Elves, according to Buddy the Elf, and they will all be at the Youth Group Christmas Party too! The youth of Grace are invited to an Elf-themed Christmas party on Sunday, Dec 17, from 12:00 – 2:00 (regular youth group time). There will be a meal, in addition to special treats.
Not getting children and youth updates? Get on Sarah’s contact list by emailing her at cymdirector@graceepiscopalholland.org
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We will be sending out a Weekly Newsletter that is called Grace to You. If you do not receive this, please email the church office at gechurch@graceepiscopalholland.org to get your email added! After we send out, we will be posting it here as well.
Grace to You – October
10/29/2023
10/22/2023
10/15/2023
10/8/2023
10/1/2023
Grace to You – September
9/24/2023
9/17/2023
9/10/2023
9/3/2023
Vestry
Rev. Jen Adams, Rector
Jeff Erickson, Sr. Warden
Krista Babbitt, Jr. Warden & Communications
Holly Anderson, Clerk
DuAnne Masselink, Treasurer
Pam Brown, Buildings & Grounds and Creation Care
Ned Goodman, Endowment and Buildings & Grounds
David Hawley-Lowry, Fellowship
Kris Pierce, Hispanic/Latino Ministry
Matt Schmidt, Worship & Digital Ministry
Robbie Schorle, Outreach and Social Justice & Anti-Racism
Joan Smith, Congregational Care
Laurie Van Ark, Fellowship
Kelli Van Dyke, Worship
Chris Wennersten, Worship
Support for Ukraine through Episcopal Relief and Development
Episcopal Relief & Development continues to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine, working with our Anglican partners in Europe and ACT Alliance (a global coalition of over 140 faith-based organizations). Follow the link below to contribute knowing that your gift will help provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance. You can follow this link to get to ER&D’s contribution page. You may also make a contribution to Grace with “Ukraine” in the memo and we will make the contribution to ER&D.
Grace Refugee Co-sponsorship
This fall we are looking to co-sponsor a refugee family with St. Francis and All Saints churches. At this time, we have been blessed with all the furniture and lamps and kitchen items we could have hoped for – a big thank you to so many who kept this ministry in mind! We are now shifting our focus to gift cards from Meijer and Target for the purchase of towels and linens and a new set of queen size mattresses, to be purchased once we are paired with a family. Please drop off any gift card donations at the office during the week, or leave them in the offering plate during services. Thank you!
Communities across West Michigan (including Ottawa, Kent, and Muskegon Counties) are beginning to welcome more than 280 adults and many children who are newly arrived from Afghanistan. We’re finding ways to help now – read on and also stay tuned for more!
Contact the Church Office if you would like to be part of a “Refugee Ministry Leadership Team.” This is the group that will meet regularly with leads from the other congregations to coordinate efforts with each other, Bethany and Lighthouse. We need a few more folks to help out with coordination and planning.
Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates (LIA) has a new legal clinic to serve the legal needs of the influx of newcomers to achieve safety and stability. LIA is the only nonprofit law office in Ottawa County serving immigrants and refugees regardless of income. Financial support is needed as soon as possible for this clinic to offset significant legal fees, translation and interpreter costs, and hospitality expenses. LIA will provide over half a million dollars of legal services at no cost to refugees. The Clinic designed by the LIA Legal Team will provide every refugee with the appropriate legal services to transition from temporary humanitarian parole status into full asylum status. Applications must be made for asylum for refugees who would face persecution, torture, or worse, if they returned to their home countries. Refugees have 1 year from the date of entry into the United States to apply for asylum. Learn more about the program by visiting the Refugee Program page on LIA’s website at https://lia-michigan.org/legal-services/refugees/ or by emailing admin@lia-michigan.org
You can make a contribution through Grace’s Beyond Grace Fund or directly to LIA.
Bethany Christian Services – Refugee Resettlement Program
Refugee resettlement is the work we have done and hope to continue with St Francis and now All Saints, Saugatuck too as we Co-Sponsor a family. This is a six-month to one year commitment that does NOT involve providing housing. It is a way for us to offer support before the Parish House is again available. Bethany secures housing and a team of people (folks from each church) collectively supports a refugee family. We’ll prepare their apartment with necessities, welcome them at the airport, and provide other services such as English tutoring or cultural assistance. Follow the link above to learn more. If you are interested in serving on a Resettlement Team contact the Church Office as we explore the possibilities.
Thank you, Grace for helping people who have lost so much, find welcome and home again.
Food Club with Community Action House
Grace has partnered with Community Action House and we are proud to say that we make up a large part of the volunteers of Food Club. They are still always looking for help and it is a great way to get connected with Grace folks & the greater Holland community. THANK YOU, Grace for feeding hungry people! If you are already signed up to serve, Thank You! If you’d like to serve (generally once a month) but haven’t yet signed up, contact the Church Office.
If you’d like to learn more about Food Club and Opportunity Hub, look here.