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weekly eNews | November 23, 2018
“Mightier than the noise of great waters; mightier than the sea, so the Lord on high is mighty.” (Psalm 93.5)
Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa
WITH THANKSGIVING 

“Christ plays in ten thousand places,
lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his”
 - Gerard Manley Hopkins


Dear People of Grace,

This weekend, I give thanks for you. The music you make, the gifts you share, the faithfulness with which you pray and serve, the humor you bring, the art you create, the plants you cultivate, the welcome you extend, the visions you carry, offer glimpses of God’s surprising Spirit day after day. I give thanks for you. I am grateful for the reach of your relationships and for ways that God is at work in and through you. 

Join us on Sunday at Grace as we give thanks for all that sustains us, and as we celebrate our growing friendship with Iglesia de la Resurrección in Mount Vernon.  Baudelina Paz will be our guest preacher, and will share about the ministry of La Iglesia de la Resurrección in Mount Vernon. Grace has formed a partnership with Resurrección through our annual summer camp (to be held July 14-19, 2019 - save the date.)


Read this interview,  in which Baudelina shares about Iglesia de la Resurrección's ministry and her own journey of discovering a voice and a call within and for her community.

With gratitude,
Wren

 


Sharing in Advent with Iglesia de la Resurrección

Our Resurrección Giving Tree emptied quickly -  thank you to everyone who took a tag  the first time around! Baudelina and our other friends at Iglesia de la Resurrección will distribute the gifts just prior to Christmas Eve. 

ACROSS THE DIOCESE
 
A Thanksgiving Message from Bishop Rickel

On Thursday, Bishop Greg Rickel offered his wishes for Thanksgiving Day and an encouragement to share our blessings with others. Watch here.  
ADVENT PREVIEW

Expecting, Waiting, Listening

We have a rich, full Advent season planned, with Tuesday evening sessions for adults and children, Wednesday Bible study and reflection on the theme of "Songs of Waiting and Expectation," and community celebration for people of all ages. Coming right up: 

December 2, 1:30 – 3:30 pm: Open House and Advent Wreath Making Party. RSVP and get complete event details on the signup page.  If you can't make the open house, wreath making materials will be available in Walker Hall during coffee hour. 

For a complete listing of Grace Advent programming, see gracehere.org/advent-2018.


Jan Richardson, Shall Come Home with Joy. 
ANNUAL GIVING 

A Note of Thanks

Dear People of Grace,

Thank you. Truly, thank you. Together we are deepening our roots and spreading our branches. We are grateful for pledges totaling nearly $506,000, bringing us to within 15% of our goal.

While our campaign has officially concluded, we invite you to pledge any time: pledge as you grow more deeply involved in grace, or increase your pledge or give more generously on any Sunday. Additional pledges that come in will be used to structure our 2019 budget for your approval at the annual meeting. Pledge online here.

Our Annual Giving campaign is the ministry of many people who deeply love and care for Grace. Thank you to the thinkers, the writers and the folders-stuffers-mailers who produced our campaign materials. Thank you to all shared their heartfelt stories of Grace in their lives. Thank you to the callers, the reminder-note-writers and the thank-you-note-writers for expressing the gratitude of our community. Thank you to Wren, Lindsay, Diane, Kim, and Wendi for behind-the-scenes continuity and inspiration. And thank to you, the 187 cheerful donors who have reached deeply within and responded with generosity.

Gratefully,
Julie Shryock
Annual Giving Campaign Lead
FAMILIES, CHILDREN & YOUTH
Last week on Sunday morning, our children heard riveting stories from Ellin Spenser of her first-hand experience welcoming refugees to the Greek island of Lesbos. Please stop by the Wayfarers classroom to see her incredible photos, and join us any time in the classroom as we continue to learn about immigration and refugees, particularly through our ongoing efforts to support KIAC - Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center.

We look forward to a wonderful Advent season as we enter deeply into wonder—and fun! Please keep your eyes open for news of walks with Earth and Spirit, our Pageant (with real donkeys), and much more. We’ll need lots of help in the coming weeks! If you can help with the pageant or with children’s programming, please let Kim know.

 




RSVP now for Parents' Night Out and the Youth Overnight 

RSVP now for Grace’s Parent’s Night Out and to save your place at Grace’s Youth Overnight on Friday, December 7. Kids will join in an evening of crafts, games, and dinner from 6-8:30 pm.  Youth grades 6-12 should plan to arrive at 5:45 pm and will enjoy games, snacks, midnight prayers, and a french toast breakfast.

Contact Kim Cockroft with questions or to lend a hand. For more of what's on deck for youth, check out our complete November-December youth programming calendar

 




Advent Expectation with Our Children

Have you wondered what Godly Play is all about? On Tuesday evenings in Advent as adults gather in Walker Hall, Wren will share Godly Play stories of the Advent season.

Wren needs an assistant! On one or all of our Advent Tuesday evenings (December 4, 11, and 18), serve alongside Wren as a doorkeeper, offering hospitality to children as they arrive.

Join us as we experience the wonder and beauty of this season of waiting, listening, and expecting. Contact Wren to lend a hand.
BIBLE STUDY

Reading The Book of Ruth
 
During Wednesday Bible Study on November 28, we will continue our reading of The Book of Ruth. Bible Study meets from 11:15 am to noon, immediately following our 10:30 am Healing Eucharist. We will reference Who Are You, My Daughter? Reading Ruth Through Image and Text by Ellen F. Davis and Margaret Parker.  Join in for one or both sessions! Contact Wren with questions. 
OUTREACH


Stock the shelves at NK Fishline
 
On Wednesday, November 28, from 5:30-7 pm, we will take a tour of Grace Outreach Grant recipient North Kitsap Fishline and help stock the shelves.  This is a great opportunity to see Fishline’s brand new Poulsbo facility and learn how they serve the North Kitsap community!

Kids 8-12 should be accompanied by an adult; those 13 and older can participate unaccompanied. Contact Kim to register: kim@gracehere.org.

 

Kids to Kids: Coats for KIAC

Thank you for bringing coats to share through the Kitasp Immigrant Assistance Center! Fourteen families came to KIAC last week for winter gear, and each of the coats you contributed went to grateful homes.

Please continue to bring gently used or new children’s coats for KIAC. (Hats and gloves are also welcome.) Adult socks, coats, and hats may be contributed for distribution through our Streets of Seattle team in December.
EARTH & SPIRIT
 
Work party at Moritani Preserve

Where & When: 10 am to noon December 1. Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation has extended an invitation for volunteers to join them for the last work party of the year at Moritani Preserve. What a wonderful way to begin Advent, and a great opportunity for families to work together outdoors! If you'd like to attend, contact Marcy Lagerloef
 

Climate and Energy Forum: Climate Change & Faith Communities 

Where & When: 7-8:30 pm Wednesday, December 5 at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church. Free. Many religious faiths have been very active in calling for protection of our natural environment and on combating climate change.  Local faith leaders will share how they are working to preserve our environment and address climate change.
Presenters: 
Rev Thomas Perchlik, Cedars Unitarian/Universalist Church; Rev. Wren Blessing, Grace Episcopal Church; Shonie Senji Kanada, Nippon Mahoji Buddhist Temple; Rev Mary Karen Brown (retired), Snoqualmie United Methodist Church. 


Movies that Matter: Wasted

Where & When: 7 pm Thursday, December 6 at Bainbridge Public Library. Free. The film exposes the criminality of food waste, how it contributes to climate change, and how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve a problem of the 21st Century.

Both events are co-sponsored by Sustainable Bainbridge, Climate Action Bainbridge, EcoAdapt,  Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and Friends of Island Power. 
PARISH LIFE - MEN OF GRACE

Service Opportunity: Tree Setup

Men of Grace, we're in search of 4-6 people to set up the Grace trees on the morning of Saturday, December 1, in preparation for the first Sunday of Advent. Eric Matthews will provide coffee and breakfast casserole at 9 am followed by setup and light installment.  Email eric@gracehere.org to volunteer. 
 
Thanks in advance for your gift of time and talent to Grace.

 


Men of Grace Christmas Party

When & Where: 6:30-8:30 pm Friday, December 14 at the home of Proctor Schenk. We'll serve a festive main dish of Filet Mignon. To RSVP, get complete event details, and find out what you can contribute to the potluck, see the Sign Up page
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