Stewardship Pledge Drive:  Over the past several weeks we have been celebrating our annual pledge drive under the theme, “Being Grace.”  We have raised $350,019 in pledges which puts us at about 89% of our goal. We need your help as we continue to reach toward our goal of $391,000! 
Our follow ups have begun! Pledge cards are available in the Commons and in the pews. For those who are able, the cards can also be used to increase a pledge that was already submitted. Thank you all for the  support you give to the mission and ministries of Grace Church!

Vestry Slate Announced: Thank you to Ron Brown, Karen Bylsma, Bob Johnston, Mary Matrosic and Greta Shires who have agreed to serve on vestry pending election at our Annual Meeting on January 31.  As is the norm, we have four openings and this year one extra (who will be appointed) since one of our current vestry members is leaving a term early to be on sabbatical with family.  Per our by-law requirement, nominations are open through January 10th.
 
Grace Meal Ministry: Would you be willing to make a meal on occasion for a Grace family who is experiencing some sort of transition or crisis? If so, sign up the Commons or email the Church Office and we will put you on the list! When there is a need we will send around an email and an online sign up sheet. If you have questions, ask Rev. Jen or Sue Stick.

"Grace Cares" Ministry was formed to act on the kind of care we can be doing for each other in those "gaps" which are the non-critical but help-needed moments in our lives. It is intended to be warmhearted communication and practical assistance for someone experiencing a short-term, life-limiting situation such as surgery, broken limbs, chemotherapy, a new baby, illness or other life-transitions. Care Teams will be made up of 4-6 individuals who sign up to offer assistance on days that fit their schedule so that every day for up to three weeks is covered. The schedule is completed online; contact information is exchanged between the team and the recipient; possible needs are assessed. Possible assistance includes Picking up grocery items, driving to the doctor's office, cleaning a litter box, washing sheets and remaking a bed, cleaning up kitchen, taking out the garbage, making tea, etc. If you would like to be listed as a potential team member please sign up in the Commons or contact: Rev. Jen Adams or Mary   Benedict at 616-566-9216 or mbenedict1699@gmail.com.

Middles school Laser Tag: Join us at BAM! Entertainment Center, January 3, 2016 from 6-8pm for laser tag. Price is $10/person which will be covered for Grace Middle Schoolers. See Howard Huyser with questions or e-mail Rev Christian.

High Schoolers (9th -12th grades): Our 2nd annual Diocesan High School Lenten Retreat will be Feb 20, 2016. Cost is $10. Registration & money will be due Feb. 7, 2016. This year's retreat will be at St. Timothy’s, Richland, MI. The focus will be on 4 disciplines of Lenten practice: prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and penitence. See flyer and/or Facebook event for more details, or email Christian with questions.

Grace and Feeding America: Come on the second Thursday of each month (December 10, January 14, February 11. . .)  at 4:00 to help in the kitchen and between 4:30 and 5:00 to help with outdoor set-up and the distribution of over 8,000 lbs. of food. Also, remember the ongoing need for laundry detergent (smaller size—70 oz.) and toilet paper! Bring these items at any time and deposit them in the labeled drawers in the Commons. There are  also envelopes in the pews through which you can give a donation to help purchase these items. If you need food, come. If you can help out, come.

A Centering Prayer Meditation Group will begin weekly gatherings on Thursday, January 7, from 7:00-8:00 pm in the Chapel.  All are invited to attend the group whenever you are able. The hour will consist of a reading or prayer that leads into a 20-minute meditation, discussion of the evening's experience or thoughts about your ongoing daily practice, and occasional information about the practice of Centering Prayer in various formats. If you have any questions, please contact Barb Vincensi, Phil   Harrington, or Renee Krueger. "Nearly everybody reports that Centering prayer is much easier in a group — not only because of the support and fellowship you receive from your fellow group members, but because of the synergy of the group itself. Even if your personal experience of a prayer period is one of restlessness and a lot of thoughts, in a group you'll become simultaneously aware of a deeper energy pulling you toward center. In that collected and amplified energetic space many people       experience — sometimes for the first time — that they actually are being met and held in a divine presence that is always there but sometimes too subtle to detect when you're meditating alone. The synergistic reinforcement makes the "prayer" part of Centering Prayer truly palpable."  ~Cynthia Bourgeault

Creation Care at Grace Church!
This active group meets monthly at participant’s homes and all are free to come!  We share resources, thoughts and ideas on ways that Grace and each one of us could become more ‘green’ – a lot of work has been done in the past years but there is always more to do!  We continue to seek a more visible presence of our work at Grace and hopefully over the next few months our work will become more visible to the community! It is our intent to show films on the environment and ecological concerns, bring in speakers and provide resources for those interested in the environment, eco-theology both on a personal, local, national and global scale. The next meeting will be held on January ^th at 6:00 pm at the home of Andy and Mary Huisman, 523 Spring Lane Drive, Holland, MI 49423 (Spring Lane Condos, just South of 32^nd and Graafschap Road).