Sunday Morning Schedule: December 2015

9 am Worship in the Great Room

10 am Education, Fellowship, and Special Music

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.

On Sunday, December 27, we have ONE worship service at 10 am in the sanctuary and no Sunday School classes.

On Sunday, December 20, we have our annual Christmas brunch in the Great Room from 10-11 am. There is no Sunday School this day.

Here’s where you will find education and fellowship opportunities at 10 am for the first two Sundays in December.

Children ages 0-Pre-K

A nursery is available all morning from 8:50 am – 12:15 pm. From 10 – 10:45 am. Colissa Fry leads a Sunday School lesson for these children. They use the Feasting on the Word curriculum.

Kindergarten – 2nd grade meets in room B10 (in the basement). Merodee Grannis and Kendall Drake teach using the Feasting on the Word curriculum.

3rd grade – 5th grade meets in the Tower Room (on the 2nd floor). Geoff Snook and Sherry Camargo teach using the Feasting on the Word curriculum.

Youth

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

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

Adults

There are no adult Sunday School offerings in December. All adults are invited to the special music concerts in the sanctuary.

A Letter from the Session

November 24, 2015

Dear Grace Community,

Last March our Session began serious conversation about same-sex weddings and Grace Presbyterian Church. This conversation was in response to a change within our denomination, the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). The decision about whether or not to perform same-sex weddings on church property is now in the hands of each congregation. Since March, we’ve held listening sessions, a book study, and a program with representatives of organizations within the PCUSA with differing viewpoints on this issue. The Session formally invited letters and conversations from the congregation and was glad to hear from many of you. We spent time in prayer and conversation on this topic, both in regular meetings as well as at a called meeting.

On Monday, November 23, we gathered for our monthly meeting. Elders (Session members) are representative of the congregation but do not vote in a representative fashion. Instead they vote based on the leading of the Spirit, and last night we voted on our wedding policy.

First we unanimously approved the following statement:

We are unified in our commitment to leading Grace Presbyterian Church as we seek to be Christ’s body. While we may not be unanimous in our beliefs about same-sex marriage, we remain unified in answering the call to follow Christ. We affirm that Jesus Christ alone is Head of the Church, and trust God alone is Lord of the conscience. We give thanks for the desire of this congregation to faithfully study, discuss, and pray about this decision, and we give thanks for the opportunity to serve here.

As a Session we hold strong and varied positions on this decision. We respect one another in this. We believe that those who oppose same-sex marriage are faithful in their beliefs, voting their convictions and not doing so out of judgment or homophobia. We believe that those who favor same-sex marriage are faithful in their beliefs, voting their convictions and that they too hold scripture in highest regard. As a Session, we stand behind the decision regarding same-sex marriage regardless of our individual beliefs.

There are many issues of faith on which we disagree in this congregation. One reason this particular vote is so hard is because it is in fact, a vote. We don’t often vote in ways that highlight our differences. In this time when our dissimilarities are clear it is essential that we remain true to the call that unites us, the call to be Jesus’ disciples.

Next we entertained the following motion, which was seconded and discussed.

We adapt the Grace Presbyterian wedding policy to allow same-gender couples to be married at Grace under the same guidelines that apply to opposite-gender couples. Every wedding that takes place at Grace must be approved by the Grace Session. In recent years the church wedding policy (approved by the Session) gave this authority to the pastor. With this vote, we change our wedding policy to once again require full Session approval for each wedding, same-gender and opposite-gender weddings.

We reaffirm that the pastor may choose not to perform any wedding she or he is not comfortable with, and that the Session may choose not to approve weddings they are not comfortable with, all in accordance with our wedding policy and the Directory for Worship of the PCUSA. This has always been true.

Specifically regarding same-sex weddings, any staff members (i.e. wedding coordinators, custodians, office staff, musicians) not comfortable working these weddings will not be required to do so.

The motion was approved but not unanimously. As a Session we pray that the same Spirit that moved across the waters at creation, that moved through the early churches of Galatia and Rome, and that was with the founders of Grace over 100 years ago will again move through this church and unify us. Recognizing the variety of opinions and convictions on this issue, members of the Session will be available in the Grace Chapel Sundays, November 29, December 6 and December13 from 10-10:30 am.

As we move toward Thanksgiving we give thanks for this congregation, and as we move toward Advent we pray for Christ’s coming. It is in the hope and peace we know from him that we sign this letter.

Ron Brown

Jerry Juhnke

Charlene Randle

Betsy Ross

Cindy Dethloff

Maggie McIntire

Sandy Remsberg

Sue Steele

Fred Heismeyer

Don Murphy

Janet Rhoads

Bill Vavra

Catherine Neelly Burton, Moderator

Angel Tree 2015

The Angel Tree is full of Angels and Stars! Please help by choosing one and purchasing a new gift for someone in need this Christmas. Please bring your new, unwrapped gift back to the tree on or before Sunday, December 13, then hang your ornament on your tree and remember this special person this season!

From the Pastor’s Desk: November 24

Dear Grace Community,

On Sunday, November 22, the Presbytery installed me as your pastor. Yes, I was your pastor before Sunday. In fact, this was the third installation. That’s a long story that I’m happy to tell you some other time. For now though I want to say thank you.

Over the summer when I learned that the presbytery would require a third installation for me, I rolled my eyes. I thought it seemed like overkill, that we really didn’t need to do this again. And maybe we didn’t need to, but I’m glad we did.

Worship on Sunday was a wonderful celebration. It was a celebration of God’s goodness and a chance to give thanks for the ministry we share at Grace as pastor and congregation. It was an opportunity to ask God to bless our shared ministry going forward. It was joy filled with incredible music and many people faithfully leading worship. It was wonderful to be joined by sisters and brothers from Chase and Caldwell and to share a meal together after the service.

Thank you for the beautiful stole. You will see me wear it in worship, and I will treasure it throughout my ministry. It’s a wonderful symbol of our lives together at Grace. The imagery on the stole represents communion and baptism. It is only together as a community that we celebrate these sacraments, and I am grateful to be in community with you. I am grateful for the ways you support me and John, and for the ways I know you will love our baby.

In Christ,

Catherine

December Youth Schedules (2015)

If you would like to get on the Student Ministry email list for either IGNITE or INSPIRE/WYLDlife, please email your request to Kirk Anderson.

IGNITE (All High School aged youth)

Sunday discussion (10 – 10:50 am) December 6 and 13. We look at Christmas and how to take it beyond December 25.
Tuesday Chess Club (3:30 – 4:30 pm) We meet December 1, 8 and 15, then we are off until 2016! We meet in Room 101. It’s led by Ann Graham and Gary Hart.
Wednesday Fellowship (5:30 – 7:15 pm) Dinner at 5:30 pm followed by games and discussion. We meet December 2, 9 and 16. Special events on the December 9 and 16. Look for more details in weeekly emails.

INSPIRE (All Middle High aged youth)

Sunday discussion (10 – 10:50am) December 6 and 13. We look at Christmas and how to take it beyond December 25.

Tuesday Bible Study @ Robinson during the lunch periods.
Tuesday Chess (3:30-4:30 pm) in Room 101. We meet December 1, 8 and 15, then we are off until 2016! Led by Ann Graham and Gary Hart.
Wednesday Fellowship (3:30 – 4:45 pm) in the Youth Center. We meet December 2, 9 and 16. Special events on December 9 and 16. Look for more details in eeekly emails.

WYLDlife Club (after school to 5 pm) is scheduled for December 4. Youth meet at the Robinson cafeteria and then walk to Grace. Pick-up is the Battin street fountain entrance.

Save the Dates 2016

Westminster Woods Winter Retreat
- Middle High: January 30 to February 1
- High School: January 23 to February 25

Westminster Woods Summer camp dates
- WMW Summer Camp 2016 Family Camp: May 27-29
- 3rd & 4th Grade Camp: May 31-June 3
- 5th & 6th Grade Camp: June 6-10
- 7th & 8th Grade Camp: June 13-17
- High School Camp: June 20 –26

For Westminster Woods Camp info go to www.westminsterwoodscamp.com