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WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11, 2016

Rev. Kevin Clementson Rev. Martha Clementson Email: kclementson@gracelc.org Email: mclementson@gracelc.org Cell phone: 410-259-1586 Cell phone: 410-259-9054

21 CARROLL STREET WESTMINSTER, MD 21157 CHURCH OFFICE: 410-848-7020 FAX: 410-848-2113

WEBSITE: www.gracelc.org

11:15 a.m. – We welcome to the Lord’s Family by the waters of Holy Baptism,

Patrick Ryan Bicking, son of Ryan and Lisa Bicking. His sponsors are Abby and Godfried deGoey.

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Children's Christmas Program – This Sunday, December 11, the 9:00 Worship Service includes the Children's Christmas Program. Thank you to the students, teachers, leaders and families who have prepared the program so that the children can give witness to Jesus' presence this Christmas. Special thanks to Carson Snyder, Ben Dorsey, and Brooke Hodges for reading the Scripture Lessons. You are invited to join in cookies and fellowship immediately following the service in the Upper Gathering Space.

Christian Education classes will meet this week.

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Christmas Cantata – On Sunday, December 18 at the 11:15 worship service, the Festival and Luther Choirs, soloists, instrumentalists, and narrators will present The Christmas Promise, by Lloyd Larson. Please join us as we worship

our Savior and continue to prepare our hearts for a blessed Christmas.

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Christmas Baskets – We will be packing and delivering Christmas baskets for church members and friends next Sunday, December 18 at 10:15 in the Lower Gathering Space. The Social Ministry Committee invites you to help with this important project. The more people who come to help, the quicker it goes!!! Your help will be greatly appreciated.

WELCOME VISITORS

We welcome all visitors worshipping with us

today. Please stop by the Visitor’s Table to

pick up a Welcome Bag. We invite you to sign the RCR card or fill out a visitor’s card at the

Table so we can get to know you.

WORSHIP SERVICES

5:00 pm – Saturday in the Sanctuary

7:45 am – Sunday in the Sanctuary

9:00 am – Sunday in Grace Hall

11:15 am – Sunday in the Sanctuary

10:15 Education Hour

** Nursery is available for children 3 and under during the Education Hour in Room 100.

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Fair Trade Christmas Baskets and “Mandy’s Story”

Fair Trade Gift Baskets and Mandy's Story are available for purchase in the Lower Gathering Space following the worship services this Sunday.

“Mandy's Story” tells the true story of Mandy Kent, an outstanding young woman who touched many of our lives here at Grace. In spite of the fact that Mandy lived a short life here on earth, her witness will be lasting as her spirit influenced so many people. The book is not being sold for profit. You are asked to give a meaningful donation to Carroll Lutheran School Scholarship Fund in Mandy's honor.

Fair Trade Gift Baskets help farmers in many places receive a fair wage for the work. They make wonderful Christmas gifts and will be available for purchase this weekend and next. Fair Trade items include Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa, Mugs, Peach and Ginger Jam, Cashews, Raisins, and, of course, Divine Chocolate Bars. There are also hand-made scroll-sawn wooden Christmas ornaments graciously donated by Jim Helm included with several of the baskets. The proceeds benefit Equal Exchange and Lutheran World Relief’s Small Farmers’ Fund.

Since shopping days are few in number, please consider purchasing a book or a Fair Trade Gift Basket today!!!

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Church Decorating Party

Decorating our worship spaces is an important part of preparing for Christmas Eve. We could use your help! On Friday, December 23, the Worship and Music Committee is sponsoring a Decorating Party beginning at 6:00 p.m. Pizza will be served. We will be putting out flowers, candles and all of the finishing touches in both Grace Hall and the Sanctuary. The more people who come the better time we all have!!! If you can help, please sign the RCR card so we have enough pizza for everyone!!!!

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TECT Christmas Party!

Our youth group Christmas Party will be our last TECT of 2016! 6th-12th graders and friends please join us Wednesday December 21 from 7:00-8:30pm in Legacy for food, games, and a gift exchange! Please bring cookies or a dessert to share and a gift (NOT to exceed $10).

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Connect Bible Study

Connect is a Women’s Bible Study and the next session will be held January 6 – March 24 (Friday mornings) from 9:15-11:00am in Room 112. The study will be based on the book, “Living Above Worry and Stress.” A $10 donation to help cover the cost of materials is appreciated. (Please make your check payable to Grace Lutheran Church with “Connect” on the memo line.) Childcare is provided! Contact Carol Arbaugh at 410-848-4776 or email lauralienhard@comcast.net for more information or to register.

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Lenten Video Devotions

In 2017, Grace will again produce a series of Lenten video devotions. The series will be available on YouTube beginning on March 1. We plan to produce the videos during January and February. The devotions will be based on Luther's Small

Catechism, including the 10 Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments. If you are interested in participating in this exciting project, please sign the RCR card. After Christmas, you will receive a specific assignment as well as directions for how to make your video. When we did this project in 2015, we had a great time with it. This time around, we have the experience of already having done it once, so we will have improved directions for you!!! We hope you will join us in this great venture!!!

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Installation of The Rev. Beth Clementson

Zion Lutheran Church, Middletown, Maryland invites you to attend the Installation of The Rev. Beth Clementson as Associate Pastor on Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m. The address is: 107 West Main Street, Middletown, MD 21769. The worship service will be followed by a reception. Members and friends of Grace are asked to sign the RCR card so we can let Zion know how many people to expect.

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Flowers for 2017

The flower charts for 2017 will be up next week. The cost of flowers will again be $40 per week. This is a wonderful way to honor or remember loved ones and special anniversaries. When you sponsor the flowers, you are invited to either take the flowers following the worship services or to donate them for distribution to shut ins. Don't forget that we need flower donors for the Sundays in January!

If you have a special date in mind, please be sure to sign the chart as quickly as possible because the dates do fill up and they are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Prior to the date on which you sponsor the flowers, you will be called to obtain the wording of the dedication that you want to make. Please help us enhance the beauty of our worship spaces by donating flowers!

The flower chart for Grace Hall is located on the bulletin board in the Upper Gathering Space.

The flower chart for the Sanctuary is located on the bulletin board in the Cloister area, at the bottom of the steps leading up to the Sanctuary.

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DURING WORSHIP THIS WEEK

Preacher: Pastor Martha Clementson December Altar Guild: Cyndy Beckhardt & Sharon Deardorff (S, GH)

SERVING THIS WEEK – December 10 & 11: Worship Assistants: (5:00) Yvonne Aasen, (7:45) Steve Blades, (9:00) Jan Mickey, (11:15) Beth Roegner Communion Assistants: (9:00) Chad Plendl, Debbie Null, Jess Tanzey, Mark Tanzey, Ron Fairchild Ushers: (9:00) Randy Bachtel, Carrick Makoutz, Kyle Sherfey, Brian Sherfey Element Bearer: (9:00) Kaylee Harris

SERVING NEXT WEEK – December 17 & 18: Worship Assistants: (5:00) Laura Miller, (7:45) Caroline Babylon, (9:00) Paul Whitson, (11:15) Karen Ganjon, Reader: Leonard Cherry Communion Assistants: (9:00) Chris Gilbart, Mandy Gilbart, Steve Crews, Nancy Crews, Leanne Elliott Ushers: (9:00) Linwood Van Horn, John Myers, David Cox, Garrett Cox Element Bearer: (9:00) Jaymee Swartzbaugh

The flowers in the Sanctuary are given to the Glory of God for His many blessings by Rich, Lisa and Kara Schuster.

November 28—December 4, 2016: (Bible Conversations) 12 (5:00) 46 (10:00 All Grace) 270 (Quiet Worship) 18 (TOTAL) 346

Please remember in your prayers… Names will remain on the Continuing Prayer List for four weeks unless otherwise requested. Names will then be removed unless another request is made. Please contact Dawn Stem in the church office (410-848-7020) with any prayer requests or email dstem@gracelc.org.

Those who are serving our country: Marshall Brown, Captain Ryan Chaney, PFC Tyler Czarnowsky,

Chris St. Germain, Steve Haines, Christopher Hutchins, Nathan Karlson, Adam Miller, Leah Miller,

Steven P. Miller, Jr., Paul Roberts, Joel Whitson, Lieutenant Tyler B. Yingling and all those individuals serving in our military

Those in Convalescent, Nursing or Rehab Centers: Sarah Barnes, Elinor Causey, Donald and Nancy

Michael, Alice Midttun, Ilona Ries, Lillian Rosenberg, Ruth Senseney, Barbara Serghini, Eleanore Spears,

Ellen Terry and Charlotte Waltz

Continuing Prayers: Charles Adams, Kelly Adams, Kelly Allen, Irene Bailey, Marion Bauman, The Bellgrau

Family, Sherry Blaze, Catherine Booth, Jerry Bowers, Terri Bowers, Brian Bowersox, Peter Boyce, Kyle

Bruchey, Kevin Campbell, Seria Carter & Family, Lou Chappel, Cathy Chiaramonte, Dorien Cole, Rocky and Bonnie Davis, Tom Dowling, Scott Eberts, Joseph Flemming, Peggy Fogle, Bill and Marion Fourhman, Lynn

Grim & Family, Stephen Michael Grimes, Dick Haines, Gordon Jenkins, Tommy Joy, Philip Kirk, Jeff Landy,

Gio & Patricia Liquefatto, Sandy and Walter Long, Don Ludwig, Richard Mason, Rose Ann Meinecke, Laurie

O'Banion, Dail Pease, Brandon Philips, Linda Pixton & The Pixton Family, Charlie & Carol Plunkert, Rita

Petry, Nancy Powell, Felix Reilly, Sandy Reilly, Kriss Russell, Andrew Schaber, The St. Cross Family, Lee & Sharon Strine, Tiffany Stoddard, Charlie Walkling, Teresa Walkling, Paul Wilhelm, Penny Wilhelm, Cade

Wineke, Michael Williams, and Jessica Young

Seminarians: Nancy Brody, Kali Saint-Wyatt and Beth Roegner

Global Ministry Partners: Pastors Eric and Wendolyn Trozzo serving in Malaysia, and The Lutheran Church,

Paide, Estonia.

Also please pray for our pastors, the members of the Church Council, the staff and all of God’s children

at Grace Lutheran Church.

If you or someone you know is going into the hospital please call the church office as soon as possible. NOTE:

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THIS WEEK AT GRACE

Sunday, December 11 Fair Trade Coffee Sale (LGS) 7:45 am Traditional Worship (S) 9:00 am Praise Worship (GH) 10:15 am Christian Education Hour (various) 10:15 am “Greeters” Meeting (LGS) 10:15 am Reception (UGS) 11:15 am Traditional Worship (S) 1:00 pm Christmas Caroling (FH)

Monday, December 12 1:30 pm WELCA and CLV (CLV) 6:00 pm Cub Scouts (Various) 7:00 pm Agape Handbell Choir Rehearsal (MR) 7:00 pm Boy Scouts (Legacy) 8:30 pm AA Meeting (109/110)

Tuesday, December 13 12:00pm Table of Grace Soup Kitchen (FH/T) 4:15 pm Children’s Chorus Rehearsal (FH, T, MR) 7:00 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry (L) 7:00 pm Shepherd’s Staff Board Meeting (108)

Wednesday, December 14 1:00 pm Church Office Closing for Staff Gathering 5:00 pm TOPS Weight Loss Club (111) 5:45 pm Luther Choir Rehearsal (MR) 7:00 pm Risk Management Meeting (107) 7:30 pm Praise Band/Singers Practice (GH)

Thursday, December 15 5:00 pm Ardent Folk Bible Conversation (UGS) 6:00 pm Ardent Folk Weekly Meal (FH/T) 6:45 pm Trudging the Road AA (109/110) 7:00 pm Ardent Folk Debriefing (L) 7:00 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal (MR) 7:30 pm New Beginnings NA (Legacy) 7:50 pm Festival Choir Rehearsal (MR)

Friday, December 16 6:30 am Men’s Bkfst & Bible (Bob Evans) 8:00 pm Turning Point AA Meeting (109/110)

Saturday, December 17 10:00 am Christmas Cantata Rehearsal (S) 5:00 pm Traditional Worship (S)

Sunday, December 18 7:45 am Traditional Worship (S) 9:00 am Praise Worship (GH) 10:15 am Christian Education Hour (various) 10:15 am Christmas Basket Preparation (LGS) 11:15 am Traditional Worship (S)

(CLV) Carroll Lutheran Village (FH) Fellowship

Hall (T) Theater (S) Sanctuary (GH) Grace Hall (UGS) Upper Gathering Space (LGS) Lower

Gathering Space (MR) Music Room (L) Library

Christmas Eve

Please invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join you for Christmas Eve Worship Services at Grace. Services will be offered at:

12:00 pm Sanctuary – Carols & Holy Communion 4:00 pm Grace Hall – especially for children 6:00 pm Grace Hall – Carols & Candle Lighting and Holy Communion 8:00 pm Sanctuary – Carols & Candle Lighting and Holy Communion 10:30 pm Sanctuary – Carols & Candle Lighting and Holy Communion

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day we will have the following service:

10:00 am Christmas Day Worship – All Grace Service (Sanctuary)

Christmas Caroling previously

scheduled for December 11 has

been cancelled.

Christmas Poinsettia orders are due this

Monday, December 12.