It has begun! We had a fantastic Night 1 of Return to Bethlehem with over 800 visitors. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of making this year’s production possible!
Join us for Prop Clean-Up on Sunday, December 14th!
9:45AM - 10:45AM on in the RTB Village
During the Sunday School hour (9:45–10:45 AM), we’ll be gathering in the village area right after LifeSong to help store loose props—candles, pots, blankets, and other small items—so our team can focus on taking down the sets later.
We’d love your help—just meet us in the village on Sunday morning.
We are incredibly blessed at Grace to have a team of dedicated professionals whose hard work and excellence benefit not only our congregation but also our wider community. Their contributions make a meaningful impact every day. To show our appreciation, the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) invites the congregation to recognize their efforts with a monetary gift this Christmas season.
Donations for the staff Christmas gift can be made through any of our usual giving channels. Please designate your contribution as “Staff Christmas Gift.” Additionally, donations will be collected after worship services on December 14th and 21st. Thank you for your generosity in celebrating and supporting our outstanding staff.
Warm regards,
Staff Parish Relations Committee
"Great Joy" - Sunday, December 14, 2025
Using the same Luke passage as Dec 7, we see that the angels announced “good news of a great joy.” On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we light the joy candle. What is a joyful life (deep happiness, contentment, regardless of circumstances)? How do we share joy with the joyless world?
Prepare for worship by reading the following scripture passages: Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 2:8-15
Special Events: Lessons and Carols Service at 11AM Traditional Service
Join us Sunday at 11:00AM and our Chancel Choir for special music of this season. Exceptional instrumentalists will enhance our musical experience. Our youth and college students will participate as readers. Your favorite Christmas carols, as well as new choir songs, will bring us into the spirit of Emmanuel, God with us.
Prayer Concerns as of Thursday, November 20, 2025
MUSC
Sympathies
Click the image to register for the event.
Sunday Mornings with Youth & Parents
Starting this week, our Youth Ministry is trying a simple, conversation-focused gathering for middle and high school students
and their parents. Join us in the Wesley Center right after LifeSong (9:50AM) for coffee, tea, light refreshments, and a brief Scripture reading to spark meaningful conversation. A relaxed space to connect as we move toward Christmas!
Finishing Up Return to Bethlehem
We may be in the throes of RTB now, but plans for clean-up have already started! Join us Sunday, December 14th, for a prop clean-up speed round during the Sunday School hour.
On Sunday, December 20th, we will begin tearing down the village sets to store them for the next production of RTB. Please join us in the village, starting at 8AM.
Your Adult Ministries Council will have copies of The Bible Year Devotional available for purchase after worship on Sundays. Stop by our The Bible Year table to learn more about this yearlong Bible reading series and to get your copy.
Part of a group who would like to do The Bible Year together and need a Leader's Guide? Contact Amber Forrest (amber@gotgraceumc.org) to get your group's complimentary copy!
Revenues and Expenses through December 7, 2025
Month to date Revenues: $62,341.28
Month to date Expenses: $4,366.48
Net: $57,974.80
Year to date Revenues: $1,155,573.80
Year to date Expenses: $1,197,590.96
Net: ($42,017.16)
Grace Stewardship Campaign (see Generous Giving below to make your Estimate of Giving Pledge.)
As we continue our 2025-2026 Stewardship Campaign, we invite you to reflect on this year's theme: Fill Our Hearts, Open Our Hands. This theme captures the dual purpose of our mission - To Know Christ and Make His Love Known. It challenges us to grow deeper in faith within our church community and to extend Christ's love beyond our walls through mission and service.
So far we have received 138 pledges for a total of $854,052.00.
Stock and Crypto Donations
Giving stock and crypto is now available with the Engiven integration through our giving platform, Realm Connect. It's simple to donate! Navigate to our online giving form and select Stocks or Crytocurrency.
Grace UMC's ministries offer spiritual nurture to those within our faith community and provide care to those in our larger worldwide community. Your giving empowers us to serve together for the transformation of the world.
