Preparation for Christmas

Advent is a time of personal preparation for Christmas, and we have to be prepared if we want to see God's work. We have to stay awake and be alert so that Christmas can be meaningful. We have to prepare our hearts as well as our homes.

A woman and her daughter were out Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Just as everyone had predicted, the crowds were awful. They had to skip lunch because they were on a tight schedule. Toward the end of the day, Mom was hungry, tired and her feet were killing her. She was getting more and more irritable. As they left the last store, she turned to her daughter and asked, "Did you see the nasty look that salesman gave me?"

Her daughter answered, "He didn't give it to you, Mom. You had it when you went in."

Dr. M. Scott Peck, in his best-selling book The Road Less Traveled, begins with the statement, "Life is difficult." In a sequel to that book, he begins by saying: "Life is complex." Both statements are of course true. Life is both difficult and complex, but Advent is a season of hope. The prophet Isaiah cried out to God, "O that You would tear open the heavens and come down . . . ." (Is. 64:1). We affirm during this season of the year the most basic teachings of our faith that God has come down into our world through the person of Jesus Christ. The Word has become incarnate and now life does not seem as daunting, as frightening, as dreary or as gray.

Let the Season of Advent be a time of preparation to receive Christ into our hearts and lives as we celebrate his coming in Bethlehem to save and look forward to his final coming and the fullness of our salvation.
Take time on the Sundays of Advent and during the week to reflect on the coming of Christ Jesus and to receive his peace in the midst of the busyness of the season.

Let Christ so bless you this year.

Our Stewardship for November
Average Attendance: 111
Year to Date: 95
Thanksgiving Day: 50
Communed 237
Average Offering: $3469
Year to Date: $2972
Budget: $3202

Thank you for your stewardship—Our deficit has been reduced over the past two months & with a good December it should be quite manageable.

Also Given in November
Mexican Orphanage: $325
Food Bank: $20
Helping Hand: $75
Sunday School: $37.40
Memorials: $10
TV Fund: $25
Poinsettias: $294.75
Shoe Boxes: $199

Pastor’s Retirement

Most of you know by now that Pastor Dennis has announced his retirement for the end of next June.
We will begin to address what all this means for the congregation.
The Board of Lay Ministry, the Parish Council, and the congregation as a whole will be addressing what needs to be happening between now and June 30, as well as preparations for some type of interim ministry and the process of calling a more permanent pastor. There will be a lot of work to do through the whole process. This process will begin in January, and the congregation as a whole will be making the final decisions.

Preschool News

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Hello December…you’re here already! We have so much going on in the preschool right now. We are very busy practicing for our three, yes three, Christmas concerts and with only 2 weeks of practice time this year we are in crunch mode. Thankfully I have 54 bright and energetic children this year with a can-do attitude. Our concerts this year are on December 12, 13, and 14 and begin at 7:00 pm. We’d love for you to come to one or all and see our Christmas play and hear our beautiful voices as we sing a selection of holiday tunes.
Since we will be busy practicing for our concerts, we are taking a break from our zoo-phonics unit and instead we’ll review what we have learned so far. December is a fun month for crafting and doing some fun art projects. We are making Christmas presents for our parents as well as some ornaments for our preschool Christmas tree. On our last two days of preschool before the winter break you’ll find us dressed in our PJ’s enjoying some warm cocoa and decorating gingerbread men while watching a favorite holiday movie.

Happy Holidays to all and may God bless you with a wonderful New Year!

Miss Michelle

A “Life Quote” from Lutherans For Life

“We pray that … you continue to see the lowly Jesus of the manger in the lowliness of the unborn, the despairing, the infirm, and the dying. We pray that you would do unto them as you would do unto Him so that they in turn would see in you the love and hope and help of Jesus, and together we would join the angels and sing, ‘Glory to God in the highest.’”
Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of
Lutherans For Life – www.lutheransforlife.org

BAPTISM:
Anabelle Lilleen, infant daughter of Anthony & Karmen Terris was received into God’s covenant of grace through Baptism on Sunday, November 27.

DEATH:
Len Helton died on November 13 in Blaine, a service was held at Grace on November 17.

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord”

THANK YOU

Pat Helton and family wish to thank Pastor Dennis and the church family of Grace for their prayers, words of comfort and support.
The Memorial Service for Len
and reception put on by the ladies was a blessing to all of us.
We felt the love of the Lord through you. Thank you.

Pat and family

Morelia Mexico Update

Dear Grace Lutheran church family and friends,
I once again have returned safe from the Orphanage in Morelia. What a blessing those kids have been in my life. I thank generous people like yourselves for making this possible. As usual we had a wonderful time and Mary, Melanie and I spent about 8 days with the kids, doing
everything from the dishes to hugging all of them.
We were able to get lots of supplies that we hope will sustain them for the next year or there about. Plus new tires for their old Van. An outside choir will put on two concerts for the public with all the proceeds going toward the purchase of a newer van.
Lots of colds there and little girls with head lice but all in all they were in good spirits.
Knowing this is my last year made it difficult but I will continue to work with them on the El Buen Pastor Foundation.
Thank you again for all of your help.
I remain His servant,
Hazel Sibillia

What to Give
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all men, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
—Oren Arnold

Christmas Gift Tags
Please return your marked and wrapped package for a needy child in our area by Wednesday,            December 7.
Our thanks once again to Joan Gregory for taking on this project.

Christmas Schedule
Hanging of the Greens: was Saturday, November 26; Thanks to everyone who helped put up the Christmas tree, the big wreath and decorate.

Women’s Christmas Party: Set aside Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m. to join the ladies in a special time of devotion and friendship. Followed by dessert and fellowship in the Parish Hall. Bring a friend, an exchange gift or an item for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard at the school or for the Food Bank.

Preschool Programs: Tuesday and Wednesday, December 13,14 and 15 for the three classes. The congregation is invited to these programs at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday School Program: Sunday, December 18 during worship.

Christmas Eve Worship: Traditional Candlelight Communion services at 7:30 and 11:00 p.m. Both services will be the same.

Christmas Day: An Eucharistic service of the Word and Christmas Carols at 10:30 a.m.

New Years Eve: Vesper Communion service at 7:30 p.m.

Epiphany Party: We will take down the decorations and have a chili supper. Sunday afternoon January 1 starting at 3:30 p.m.

A Blessed Christmas: Pastor Dennis and his family wish each and every one of you a blessed Christmas, and may the love of God in Christ fill your new year. Thank you for your love and support through the past year.

Volunteers needed to staff Interfaith Coalition’s severe weather shelters

In anticipation of the colder days and nights ahead , Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County is gearing up to open its two severe weather shelters. A training for new volunteers will be offered on Thursday, December 8 from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
The shelters, staffed by volunteers from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., open when weather conditions may be life threatening to some homeless individuals. Interested individuals and couples may volunteer for one of three shifts, including an overnight shift, during which volunteers take turn sleeping. Only female volunteers staff the women’s shelter, but women may join male volunteers at the men’s shelter during the evening and morning shifts.

A training for new volunteers will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 7 – 8:30 p.m.. The trainings will be offered at the two shelter sites. Please go to the site where you are interested in volunteering. The men’s shelter is a Faith Lutheran Church, 2750 McLeod Road, and the women’s and children’s shelter is at Garden St. United Methodist Church, 1326 N. Garden St. in Bellingham. Please call Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County at 734-3983 for more information.

What Is Christmas?
Check out the Tract Rack in the Narthex.
It contains a variety of booklets relating the Gospel to all kinds of situations in our lives. The newest is titled “What is Christmas?”

Lutheran Hour Ministries

Christmas isn’t always the bright and cheery
affair found in songs or movies. Can it be merry
for a family struggling through unemployment,
alienation, and terminal illness? Written by
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pastor Wayne
Palmer, What Is Christmas? conveys how this
season can be a complicated and difficult time
of the year. For families working through hurt
feelings, strained relationships—even the
oncoming death of a loved one—Christmas
can be a trying time.

Providing Scriptural narrative from the first
Christmas, Palmer conveys how God has
reconciled mankind to Himself through His Son
and how His love gives us hope when
re-establishing connections with family
members. The best things about Christmas
are often those impossible to put a price on—
time spent together, renewed love, and the
true joy the birth of our Savior brings.

Concluding the booklet, Palmer asks the
reader this: “Where do you find yourself this
Christmas?” Wherever that place might be, the
reader is reminded that God’s gift of love in
Jesus Christ can heal every wound and repair
every broken relationship.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS
In addition, the Advent Devotional Booklet
“Transforming Christmas” from Lutheran Hour Ministries is available on the table in the Narthex.

Salvation Army

Winter relief Drive
As in years past Grace Lutheran is supplying volunteers to ring the bell at the Post Office.
We have December 19-21.  Please note the sign-up list on the bulletin board. The slots are in half hour increments.