Dear Good People of Grace,
All are invited to come to our Sanctuary to worship in-person this Sunday. We will have our FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Holy Eucharist service, on December 19th at 10:30 a.m.
To keep everyone safe, we are requiring all to wear masks in the church. The service with also be Live Streamed. If you are not joining us in person, please join us on your computer, smart tv, phone or tablet by clicking on the link near the top of our website at graceavl.com where you'll also find this Sunday's bulletin.
Lay Ministers Serving this Sunday:
Acolytes: Susan Robinson Chalicists: Nancy Walters
Lector: John Woodson; Intercessor: Elaine Potter
Ushers: Paul & Vicki Vest
Vestry Member of the Day: Steve Birkhofer
Celebration of Life Service for Marzy Israel
Tomorrow, Saturday, December 18th at 2 p.m. we will be holding a Memorial Service for Mary Israel. All are invited to attend, with a reception to follow in the parish hall. The service will also be livestreamed on the Grace Church Asheville YouTube channel. Marzy would like memorial gifts to be given to Grace Episcopal Church for the refurbishment of the parish hall, by check or online with a memo “Marzy Israel Fund” or to the Asheville Art Museum. More information is available in Marzy's Obituary.
Annual Parish Meeting: This Sunday!
 December 19 after the Sunday Service. All members of Grace are encouraged to attend the meeting, with a Chili Lunch and fellowship to follow.
For complete information on the proposed amendment and nominated Vestry Members, go to this Annual Meeting Announcement email.
At this link you will find the 2021 Annual Report.
At this link you will find the 2020 Annual Meeting minutes for your review.
Copies of the 2020 Annual Meeting minutes and the 2021 Annual Report will also be available at the Annual Meeting on Sunday.
Be sure to join us for this important Annual Event!
 Hanging of the Greens: This Sunday, December 19th, after the Annual Parish Meeting and a delicious lunch (traditional and vegetarian chili), we will make the church beautiful by hanging the garlands and wreaths, setting out the creche and decorating the trees. It's a wonderful time of fellowship and we hope you will join in this long standing Grace tradition.
 Taizé This Sunday, December 19th at 8pm — What a great opportunity to catch a moment of peace before the Christmas busyness. Grace's Taizé service is attended by an ecumenical congregation. Worshipers enjoy the reflective, communal, contemplative form of worship amongst candlelight, incense, chants, meditative readings, and prayers, and in these days, perhaps most rare of all — peaceful silence. Healing prayers for you or on behalf of others are also offered at the service. We look forward to having you join us.
OUR CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE
 December 24, 4pm Christmas Eve Paper Bag Pageant & Family Service
December 24, 8pm Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist with Choir
December 25, 10am Christmas Holy Eucharist
December 26, 10:30am First Sunday after Christmas Holy Eucharist
January 2, 10:30am Lessons and Carols
Our Paper Bag Pageant is Back!
CALLING ALL STARS, SHEPHERSDS, ANIMALS AND ANGELS!
Parents, grandparents, children, families old and new - you are invited to come join the celebration on Christmas Eve at 4pm. Bring little ones to the parish hall at 3:15p to participate. Simples costumes are in paper bags, and parishioners help the children with selections and getting dressed. Children sit with the family during the service and go to the back of the church when instructed. At the end of the service, the costumes are returned to the paper bags in the parish hall. No rehearsal is necessary. Join in and created a lasting memory for your children and grandchildren.
Interested in helping with the Pageant? Please call the church office and leave a message at extension 10. Jobs include narrators, costume organizers, reception helpers and cleanup!
 Christmas Greenery and Flower Donations: for memorials and thanksgiving. The flower guild will be decorating the altar and chancel areas as well as the two front doors this year. Therefore, donations will be welcomed to cover the costs for those areas. Look for envelops in the pews or use our electronic giving methods to give to the Altar Guild for Christmas Flowers. Be sure to include a note about who you would like to remember, thank or acknowledge. Those participating will be published in the Grace TEAM after Christmas.
 Advent in a Bag!
Remember to bring your bag to the church on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or on Sunday, December 26th! If you're leaving town before Christmas, you can bring your bag to the church foyer this Sunday, or the church will be open next week on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 4. The requested non-perishable food items will be delivered to ABCCM. Prior to the pandemic, we held regular quarterly food drives to benefit ABCCM. We haven’t been able to do that in almost two years, so this fun, easy project is a great way to make up for all those missed food drives!
Monday Morning Bible Study Will Be Taking a Break between Dec 20th and January 10th.
 Beginning January 10th until February 14th we look forward to welcoming the Rev. Guy Sayles as our host and teacher for our Monday Morning Bible Study. Please mark your calendars Mondays at 10:30 on Zoom- you don’t want to miss this wonderful opportunity to learn from Rev. Sayles. Details will follow next week.
"Guy Sayles is a writer, speaker, and guide who explores the intersections of faith and life and of meaning and culture. For 13½ years he was pastor at First Baptist Church of Asheville and for four years was on the religion faculty at Mars Hill University. He and his wife, Anita Plunkett Sayles, also an ordained Baptist minister. recently became part of the Grace community. He blogs at FromTheIntersection.org."
FOR EPIPHANY
Create + Connect Circles Experience during Epiphany
Join Ginger Huebner for a four week Create + Connect Circles experience during Epiphany, as we enter 2022. We will gather in person to share, reflect and connect in response to the weekly sermon and readings through Ginger’s Create + Connect process. This process guides participants by using simple tools of collage and color to interpret ideas and emotions that are often beyond words. You can find out more about Ginger and this process here: https://www.createandconnectcircles.com
There is no artistic experience necessary. ALL are welcome!
All materials provided.
Thursdays from 8-9am at Grace Church, January 13, 20, 27, and February 3
Call Ginger Huebner with any questions: 828-545-4827
 During this Joyous Season, we are so grateful, and at the same time, ER&D reminds us that there are
Thousands Who Lost Everything They Had.
The tornadoes that swept the mid-Mississippi Valley were the most powerful we’ve seen in a decade, shredding community infrastructure, killing at least 90 people and leaving thousands without their homes. Please help us work with the local partners and dioceses in need of our assistance to provide relief and support. Make an urgent tax-deductible donation to Episcopal Relief & Development today.
Stay safe, and enjoy this wonderful season with family, friends and community.
Many Blessings,
Valerie
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