| DECEMBER: UPCOMING EVENTS: Please click here for the December Calendar .... |
RAINdeer gift cards are for clients of Affinity Health, an organization which provides services to families affected by HIV/AIDS and other low-income families. Buy as many $10 gift cards from local grocery stores such as Food Lion, WalMart, Aldi, Harris Teeter and Target as you wish. Please return the gift cards (identified with your name) to the church office or place in the offering box by Sunday, December 14th. If you have any questions, contact Lori.
GATHER: GRACE ANNUAL WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 11th, 6pm at the Douds
It is time for the Annual Grace Women’s Christmas party! The party is graciously hosted by Jill Douds. We will be meeting on December 11th at 6:00 pm. Jill will provide a pork main dish. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. We will be having a gift exchange so please bring and a gift with a $15 limit. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP in Realm or by calling the church office.
GATHER: -ISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Saturday, December 13th at 4:30-7:30pm
The annual -Ish Christmas part will take place at model A Brewing. The party will coincide with the Children’s Christmas party from 4:30 drop off to 7:30 pickup. Everyone is welcome to this event, the main demographic will be adults who have children attending the Christmas Party. Please call the office or Dre Manoni if you if you have any questions. Please RSVP here.
GATHER: CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY AT GRACE
Saturday, December 13th at 4:30-7:30pm
It is time for us to celebrate in a Winter Wonderland! The Children’s Christmas Party is for children from Pre-K to 5th grade, and child care will be provided. The event will coincide with the -ISH Christmas Party. Pizza will be served for dinner. We have a schedule filled with fun activities such as winter games, cookie decorating, savoring hot cocoa, and creating cute crafts. You can drop off your child in the Narthex at 4:30 pm. Feel free to pick them up at any time; our party will officially end at 7:30 pm. Please RSVP in Realm or call the church office!
GATHER: CHRISTMAS CANTATA
Come to Bethlehem – Sunday, December 14th @ 6pm
The Grace Notes Choir presents an evening of music featuring voice, piano and cello. Join us as we reflect on the birth of Jesus in the humble town of Bethlehem. Childcare is provided.
GATHER: WIDOWED FOLK SUPPORT GROUP
Monday, December 15th at 11:00am
This is a safe, loving place for those who have ever lost their life partners to share our lives and support each other. Count on good fellowship, good food, a few tears and lots of laughter! Make a reservation for the Vintage Grace Christmas party (see below) and we'll head to the party after we meet!
GATHER: GRACE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Monday, December 15th at 12:00pm
We invite you to join us for our yearly Vintage Grace Christmas Party at Town Tavern Fort Mill. We will enjoy lunch together at 12 PM and celebrate the holiday season. Please bring a wrapped gift for our white elephant gift exchange. This gathering is tailored for individuals aged 65 and above, but everyone is warmly welcomed to join in the festivities. Please RSVP in Realm.
GATHER: GAP @ HOME: FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Friday, December 19th at 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Our Christmas season GAP event returns this year to the home of Jon and Lori Ochsner. More details to follow, but plan to bring something yummy to share. Please RSVP in Realm or by calling the church office.
SERVE: ROOM IN THE INN
Please sign-up to help transport our guests or spend the night at the church for one of our Room in the Inn dates.
Our committed dates this year are:
12/20, 1/24, and 3/14
Saturday evening drivers will leave the church (using the church van) at 4:30pm to pick up our guests at Roof Above in Charlotte and bring them back to Grace. Sunday morning drivers will pick-up guests from Grace at 7:00am and take them to the transportation depot in Charlotte. Overnight volunteers will arrive at Grace around 6:00pm Saturday evening, stay overnight with our guests and also ensure that our Sunday morning volunteers breakdown the cots before the worship service begins.
There are a myriad of additional tasks and volunteer opportunties involved in hosting RITI, and a second Sign-Up Genius will be available with more opportunities once we have ensured that we have adequate assistance with transportation and overnight coverage.
Here is the Link to the Transportation and Overnight Sign-Up Genius
SERVE: OCCASIONAL SUNDAY CHILDCARE
We are looking for people who would be interested in providing occasional volunteer or childcare on Sunday mornings from 9am-11:30am. If you are interested in volunteering or want additional information, please see the Sign-Up Genius here. Contact Kim Palmer, with any additional questions.
LEARN: SUNDAY SCHOOL
Please look over the list of classes and we hope that you and your family will join us.
Nursery and Toddlers (Infants through 2 year olds) – Room 8
Early Childhood (3 year old - 5k) – Room 9
Primary Class (1st - 5th grades) – Room 5
Youth (6th-12th grades) - Youth Room
Adult Sunday School - Room 15
GATHERING AT GRACE : What opportunities for fun are available at Grace? Where do I belong?
Our (sort of) age related gatherings are for anyone who wants to come and have fun with others. No ID checked! If you want to hang out with folks, no one will turn you away.
- GRACE FAMILY FIRST NIGHTS - We meet on the first Sunday of each month for food and fellowship. Following our meal, one of our awesome musical groups will sing and we usually end the night with a mission project to support one of the many groups we serve. Kim Palmer coordinates this group.
- -ISH GROUP : -Ish is one of our interest/affinity groups at Grace and anyone can join! We call ourselves ISH because all of our group descriptions are open in interpretation. 😊 We are young(ish) and many would describe their stage of life as chaotic with lots of competing schedules and commitments. Some of us are married, some are not. Some have kids, some do not. We like to meet for lunch after church the 3rd Sunday of each month (“Lunch & Hang) and usually help coordinate things like celebrating a wedding or baby showers, things like that. We are always looking to meet new folks and are open to expanding the types of events we do based on the interest of the group. We are always evolving, just like Grace! If you are interested in helping host/planning an event or want to get involved, reach out to Dre Manoni. We have a Facebook group where we try to keep things updated(ish) when we are doing stuff. You can request to join the group by searching “The -Ish@Grace” on FB. Dre Manoni coordinates this group.
- GAP GROUP - We don’t need babysitters (or we do and get them) and can still drive at night. We gather the 3rd Friday night of each month for food and shenanigans. Sometimes we’re at the home of a member, sometimes we can be found at a local pub or restaurant, but we can always be found laughing and having fun. (What’s in the name? It was the group in the gap between our young adults and seniors…that’s not really true anymore, but the name stuck.) Ray Scott is our coordinator.
- DAYTRIPPERS - We go on field trips during the day. From spider lilies to Hello Dolly to Fort Mill History Museum and more. Watch for the monthly adventure. Annmarie Clark coordinates this group. All are welcome!
- VINTAGE GRACE - This group of Seniors gathers annually for a Christmas lunch and gift swap.
- YOUTH - 6th through 12th graders gather weekly for faith-building, service and fun. More details here.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING - DEVICES AND APP
If you have trouble hearing the message and other speaking in the sanctuary, please let the people in the sound booth know. We have three assistive listening devices. It is recommended that you bring your own headphones that can be plugged into the device.
We now have an app available that streams the service. Please check the website for details on how to download and use it.
PARKING ON SUNDAYS AT GRACE
On Sunday mornings, please reserve all of the parking spots in the circle for those with limited mobility unless you hold the monthly Space of Grace.
NAMETAGS
Please remember to wear your nametags on Sunday mornings. We have had quite a few guests attending worship, so it's helpful if we are wearing our nametags. If you are missing your name tag, let Ami know.
SOFT PLASTIC RECYCLING
Great job on continuing your collections! We have received several benches with half going to the Historic Paradise Foundation. Have you ever wondered where the plastic goes after we collect it? The following 2 videos will provide those answers:
Recycling program
Trex factory
HUG ME DOLLS
Do you know someone who needs a hug? Melissa has been making some hug-me dolls and is ready to make some more. They come in a wide variety, with each one just waiting to be hugged. They are $10 with all proceeds going to Thornwell Home for Children and Teenagers.
INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIP WITH TEMPLE SOLEL
Presbyterian Church & Jewish Temple Partner – Sharing Lessons of Hospitality: CN2 News article