December 8-14, 2019

"A Dream by Which to Set a Course" Rev. Cathy C. Hoop
Anthem: "E'en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come," Paul Manz
Prelude: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," arr. Garry Smoke
Handbell and Adult Choirs

Missed a Sunday?
To read past sermons visit our GPC homepage

...and Welcoming New Members
Sunday, Dec. 8th, Grace Presbyterian Church welcomes: Adam Brooks, the Sarah and Richard Newton family and the Hailey Grace and Will Steele family. And, we will observe the sacrament of baptism of August and Elizabeth Newton (siblings of Silas) and Jack and Samuel Steele. Thanks be to God.

Advent Devotional Materials, for Adults and Families, are available on the table in sanctuary entrance.

Scripture, art, poetry, journaling - and a myriad of suggestions for engaging in the Advent invitation to embrace courage, justice, repentance and delight - await you in this engaging resource.

Thank you for helping us do the HEART WORK of Stewardship. Each donated dollar, each hour of time and/or gift of talent enables us to better fulfill our mission: “Celebrating Christ’s universal love, we seek to do justice, embrace kindness, and walk humbly with God.” And, it is not too late for you to participate. Please prayerfully consider what you are able to give and/or do to support the ministries of Grace Presbyterian. Please turn in your pledge card and Time and Talent brochures today.

All Classes Meet Sundays @ 9:45 a.m.

Infants: “Growing in Grace and Gratitude”
Children: Through December’s story, Isaiah Promised, Jesus Fulfilled, children will learn the kind of Messiah Isaiah taught us to look for and why God sent the Messiah into the world. These lessons will do this by unlocking the "secrets" of the titles and names Isaiah used to describe this coming servant king. Dec. 8th Rotations: Older Children: Cooking/Garden Rm (making rock candy) Younger Children: Art/Bright Rm.
Middle School: grades 5-6-7, Connect. December stories focus on Moses.

This event is for Kindergarten-5^th graders and cost is $50 per person. A parent/adult must accompany K-1st graders. Register online by Dec. 27, pslpusa.org/retreats. Talk with Leslie Poss for the packing list and for more information.

Scholarships are available.

for High School/College Students & Adults
Sundays @ 9:45 a.m

Sundays, Dec. 8th, 9:45 a.m.
Rev. Cathy Hoop, facilitator

Week 2 of this study, The Promise of Potential, is all about Mary, mother of Jesus: her encounter with the angel Gabriel, her visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, and her hymn of praise and revolution, the Magnificat. This group meets in the fellowship hall.

Earth Stewardship Project at Grace

At the request of the Congregational Care Committee, the Grace Session approved the creation of a task force to make recommendations to reduce the use of single-use/disposable items at Grace that are not environmentally-friendly. The work of the group would start in January 2020 and the task force would report to the Session in time for the March 2020 Stated Session meeting. If you wish to be part of the task force, contact Susan Benke at slbenke@gmail.com or call the church office.

I'm interested!

2020 Flower Chart

A flower chart for the new year is posted in the hallway outside the office. Come by and sign up!

We did it!

3,432 Cookies have been promised for our December food bags. If you said you’d bring cookies, please remember to drop them off at the church by Sunday, December 8.

200th Anniversary Presbyterian Habitat House

The Mission, Peace, and Justice Committee invites members and friends of Grace Presbyterian to join them on Saturday, December 14th to help build a Habitat House in celebration of 200 years of Presbyterians in Tuscaloosa. Work begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 4:30 p.m. Volunteer the entire day or a few hours.

Email the office to volunteer on Dec. 14 or sign up at tinyurl.com/pres200habitat to join the build on another day. Thank you for helping to give Grace a presence along side our partners Bethel, Brown, First Presbyterian, First Presbyterian Deutsch, The Korean Presbyterian, Stillman College, and the Community Foundation of West Alabama.

Next Food Distribution: Tues., Dec. 10, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Next Packing Day: Thurs., Dec. 5, 1:00-6:00 p.m.
To volunteer for distribution: Susan Donovan: sdonovan@law.ua.edu
New Food Requests: soup, boxes of cereal, oatmeal packets,
granola bars, ramen, healthy snacks

November Distribution Totals
# Households: 355
# Individuals: 890
# Bags: 399
LBS: 7,920.0
$ Cost: $2,217.75
# New Clients: 44
# Volunteers: 42

Volunteer opportunities for December

Every Thursday: 12noon to 2:30 – Unload food from WAFB; physical labor required. Six people are needed, but more are welcome because it gets the job done faster!

Thursday 12/19: 1pm to 6pm –Packing; no physical labor required. Six people are needed. You may volunteer for one or both days and for any or all of the designated hours.

Tuesday 12/10: 1:30pm to 3:30pm—Distribution; some duties require physical labor and some do not. Need 25 people for the entire time block.

Tuesday 12/17: 11am to 1pm—CSFP Distribution. Physical labor required. Need 2 people for the entire time block.

Santa's Sleigh at Turning Point Shelter

One more opportunity to help our local community neighbors is the Santa Sleigh at Turning Point. While you are out shopping please consider purchasing one or more items from the list below. Please bring your purchase to Grace on or before Sunday, December 15. Place your item in the wrapped box. The gift should not be wrapped. We will deliver to Turning Point on Monday, December 16. Thank you for helping our neighbors in need.

Wish List of items needed for Turning Point clients (Women, Men, and Children; 16 clients when full) --New items only please--
New Purses & Wallets

New Make-Up Bags with new cosmetics
New Travel Bags for Men/Boys with daily necessities
Bath Sets such as towels and wash rags with soaps and shampoo
Underwear for men, women, and children all sizes
Socks and house shoes
Adult Coloring Books with Colors or Colored Pencils
Journals
Craft Kits
Board Games
Gift Cards: Walmart, Target, Movie Theater, Restaurant, Grocery Store or Gas
Food boxes or canned food items

Sunday, Dec. 22nd
2:00 p.m.
All are invited for an afternoon of Caroling.

Session Notes

A summary of session actions for Fall 2019
can be found on the church website.

Print copies are available in the entry way outside the sanctuary.

Is your event or committee meeting missing from the official church calendar? Please use the “Calendar Request Form” hanging beside the calendar in the office to reserve your space and date. When your use has been approved, a staff member will add your meeting or event to the calendar.

Please use #gpctuscaloosa whenever you post to or about Grace on social media. This is a small but powerful way to promote the work, life, and ministry of our church.

For a more complete picture of Grace Presbyterian Church, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Online giving is now available for Grace Presbyterian Church.
Please click the link below to be taken to our giving page.

Give Online

Phone:    205-758-1193
Email: office@gracetuscaloosa.org
Website: gracetuscaloosa.org
Facebook: facebook.com/gracetuscaloosa/
Address:    113 Hargrove Rd, 35401
Hours:          Monday, Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Here it is; Our Merger Story.
Project Regeneration: Grace Presbyterian Church.

Grace Presbyterian Church Staff

The Rev. Cathy Caldwell Hoop, Minister

Dir. of Music & Worship Arts/Christian Formation: Dr. Leslie Poss
Organist: John Milas
Office Administrator: April Trussell-Smith
Food Pantry Manager: Jennifer Sheppard
Nursery Staff: Amy Barber, Alexandra Smith
Childcare Staff: Emily Haynes, Jasmine Avery-McGuire, Nick Reese, Greg Sanders
Bookkeeper: Barbara Burroughs

Copyright © *|2018* *|Grace Presbyterian Church|*, All rights reserved.

Our Contact Information is:
113 Hargrove Road
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
office@gracetuscaloosa.org
www.gracetuscaloosa.org
205-758-1193

unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences

This email was sent to <<director@tuscarts.org>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Grace Presbyterian Church · 113 Hargrove Road · Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 · USA