Giving to Grace in 2017

The recent changes to the tax codes might mean something to you. Accelerating your charitable gifts to 2017 may have greater tax benefit than in future years due to an increase in the standardized deduction and lower future tax rates.

The major change that may impact your contributions is the standard deduction in 2018. The deduction for a person filing single will be $12,000, and the deduction for those filing married is $24,000. Deductions in 2018 for those taxpayers that itemize, including charitable giving, will be applied to a lower tax rate than the 2017 tax year. Due to these changes, accelerating your gifts prior to January 1, 2018, may maximize your tax benefit for charitable gifts.

Note that checks must be delivered or postmarked on or by December 31, 2017 to claim a charitable contributions deduction in 2017, even if the check is predated to 2017 or was actually written in 2017. Checks that are written, mailed, and postmarked in 2017 will be shown as a deduction in 2017 even though they are not received by the church until 2018. You may also go online to give before the end of the year by going here. In addition, be sure to wait to file your tax return until after you’ve received your statement from the church to ensure that all your contributions are deductible.

bible

Sunday Morning Preaching Schedule for January 2018

January 7

On this first Sunday of 2018 we worship at 9 am and 11 am and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Catherine Neelly Burton preaches, and we focus on Epiphany.

January 14

In this new year we look at how Mark’s gospel kicks off Jesus’ ministry, with his baptism. Catherine Neelly Burton preaches from Mark 1:4-11.

January 21

We ordain and install new officers in worship on this Sunday.  Catherine Neelly Burton preaches, and we look at Exodus 17:1-17 and Mark 1:14-20.

January 28

Our worship team leads us this day.

Grace Presbyterian Church

January 2018 Sunday Morning Schedule

9 am           Worship in the Great Room

10 am         Education and Fellowship

11 am         Worship in the Sanctuary

Worship at 9 am is in the Great Room and is led musically by our band.  The style is less formal than the 11 am service.  The 11 am service is in the Sanctuary and is led musically by our choirs.  The style is more traditional.

Children and Youth

  • Children ages 0-Pre-K

A nursery is available all morning from 8:50 – 12:15 am.  From 10 – 10:45 am Colissa Fry leads a Sunday School lesson for these children.

  • Kindergarten – 2nd Grade

Kindergarten – 2nd grade meets in room B10 (in the basement) also known as the ‘Foundation Station.’

  • 3rd – 5th Grades

3rd, 4th, and 5th graders meet in Tower Room (on the 2nd floor).

  • Youth

6-8th graders meet in the Youth Center (downstairs)

9-12th graders meet in the Youth Center (downstairs)

Adults

Tools of Righteousness: Living Out God’s Plan for Our Bodies

All adults are invited to the Great Room for January Sunday School.  Each week at 10 am, Dr. Joshua Papsdorf from Newman University leads our class. Here’s a description of what he will teach:

Some of the earliest controversies in the Church centered on the proper Christian attitude toward the body, and things have continued along those lines for two thousand years. The difficulty is only multiplied by the conflicting messages modern society gives us about our bodies. This series aims to recover a biblical Christian understanding of the body. Building on that, we will look at how proper stewardship of our body can play a pivotal role in God’s plan for our lives, the Church, and the world.

fair trade

Fair Trade: Final Sale January 14

On Sunday, January 14, we celebrate and say goodbye to the Fair Trade Ministry.  For many years this ministry has provided Grace worshipers the opportunity to buy fairly traded products one Sunday morning a month. Fair Trade means that the workers who provide the food and labor to make the products we buy, receive fair wages. Buying Fair Trade products is a way for us as Christians to support good labor practices that lift up people and provide opportunities.

When the Fair Trade ministry began at Grace there were few places in town to buy Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and olive oil.  Now these products are readily available at a number of grocery stores and coffee shops. In fact, these other stores do a better job of providing these goods than we do. Because of this we are getting out of the Fair Trade business. We celebrate and have a going out of business sale on Sunday, January 14. We give thanks for the volunteers who began this ministry years ago and who have faithfully supported it through the years.

messy2

Messy Church: January 21

Life is messy.  Church is for messy people.

Messy Church is an interactive worship experience targeted at children eight and under and their families. It meets once a month, and the next gathering is January 21 at 4:30 pm.

We started Messy Church in September, and every month it looks a little different, but every month there will be singing, art, story, and a simple free dinner.

Messy Church is a way for young people and their families to encounter God.  It is a little chaotic, a little messy, joyful, authentic, and the time always closes with a free dinner.  The whole thing goes for about an hour, but sometimes people stick around and talk.

Messy Church is for church people and for people who don’t go to church.

We’re not perfect. We don’t expect you to be either.  Come and get messy with us.