Sunday, November 13

Juliet Joy Luke

DOB: December 22, 2021

Parents: Jaclyn and Charles Luke

Officiant: Julia Leeth

Sunday, November 20

Grayson Davis Ibarra

DOB: February 16, 2022

Parents: Melissa Davis Ibarra and Juan Ibarra

Officiant: Chris French

Sunday, November 27

Charlotte Elizabeth Sulma

DOB: December 14, 2021

Parents: Sarah Callaway Sulma and Jeffrey Scott Sulma (Marsha Bourgeois is Scott’s mom; Julia met with parents to discuss membership; Scott was a member but was marked inactive prior to ECO vote)

Officiant: Julia Leeth

Sunday, December 4

Elizabeth Brielle Mees

DOB: September 4, 2020

Parents: Amber and Brian Mees

Officiant: Chris French

Be-ING a Disciple: Telling

During this Advent season, join us as we celebrate the birth of our Savior by serving, worshiping and caring for each other inside and outside the walls of Grace. There is so much to do and so much to tell…about Him!

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING DAY

Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. – noon, in Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall

Register your family and friends to join us for Gingerbread House Decorating Day! The houses will be pre-built for you to decorate with all the icing and candy you need to make a fun decoration to enjoy during the Christmas season. Purchase one house to decorate together or one for each person in your group and make it a fun competition. You can even take one to-go if you don’t have time to stay and decorate it that day. We’ll have other fun activities to enjoy as well… and we’ll do all the messy clean-up for you! Each house costs $25. Register HERE.

BLUE CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICE

Sunday, December 4, 5 p.m., Founders’ Chapel

Grace invites you to a special holiday worship service designed for those for whom the holidays might be difficult. If you have undergone a difficult loss, transition, or life change, the church cares about you and invites you to a special time of music, worship and reflection.

SHARING CHRISTMAS JOY TABLETOP TAPESTRY LUNCHEON

Monday, December 5, 10:30 a.m., Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall

Join the Women of Grace for their annual beautiful Christmas luncheon. There will be an array of tabletop tapestry creations to inspire and enlighten you for the Holidays. Come early to view the tables, and the Space City Acapella Quartet will entertain us at 11 a.m. with lunch to follow. Lunch is $12.

Register HERE 

ENCORE CHRISTMAS DAY TRIP

Tuesday, December 6, 9:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Shopping and lunch is on the agenda for this Christmas Day Trip. Old Town Spring is the historic location of a 19th century railroad hub which grew into Spring, Texas and is now home to over 100 local businesses! We’ll leave Grace, head to Old Town Spring, do some exploring and shopping plus enjoy a delicious lunch (dutch treat). Sign up at the Connection Center counter.

GRACE KIDS MUSICAL (lovingly GKM)—"HOTEL NOEL "

Sunday, December 11, 9:30 a.m. during worship

Written and led by our middle and high school students, our kindergarten through fifth graders will take us on a journey with a family unexpectedly stranded at a “this-didn’t-show-up-on-any-GPS” safe harbor called Hotel Noel. Join us Sunday, December 11 as our kindergarten through high school seniors take over our Sunday morning service and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas and all the JOY it brings!

CHRISTMAS FOR THE CITY 2022

Sunday, December 11 following worship 

We are excited for our 8th annual Christmas for the City. This year we will again be building walls for four houses with Habitat for Humanity, continue our relationship with Kids’ Meals, Inc. to pack 4000 lunches for preschoolers and be making family kits for Houston Welcomes Refugees.

SCHEDULE

· 9:30 a.m. Worship

· 11 a.m. Check-in and enjoy lunch catered by Demeris BBQ

· 11:30 a.m. Welcome and prayer in the Courtyard

· 11:45 a.m. Work projects begin

· 2 p.m. Kids’ Meals and Refugee kits finished, load and deliver

· 4:30 p.m. Habitat wrap-up and clean-up

Wear your Christmas for the City t-shirt and construction attire to start building right after worship and lunch. Christmas for the City T-shirts ($10) will be available for purchase Sunday mornings starting November 27.

WHO CAN SERVE:

· Children ages 4-15 will have the opportunity to package lunches for Kids’ Meals, make family kits, work on crafts and write prayers on the Habitat home build boards

· Adults and students ages 16 and older can serve on the wall build or be crew leaders for packaging lunches, wrap and label toys and crafts

· Adults may serve on a hospitality team to provide refreshments to all of our volunteers

· Child care will be available for ages 3 and under. Please select this option during the online registration process

HOW TO GIVE:

• Your generous contributions will help us reach our financial goal of $35,000 to make these projects a reality for families in our city. You may give online or with a check made payable to Grace (it is important to note “Christmas for the City” on the memo line). You can also contribute on Sunday mornings in the courtyard.

Here are some suggested ways to give:

· Walls for four houses: Single boards for $25, a room for $1500, or an entire house for $7500

· 5,000 lunches: 20 lunches for $30, 200 lunches for $300 or 500 lunches for $750

· 100 welcome kits: Buy 1/2 a welcome kit for $50, 1 welcome kit for $100, or 2 welcome kits for $200

· A financial contribution of your choice.

· Pray for Christmas for the City. Pray that people may be moved during worship and blessed by the children and students performing that day. Pray also for good weather, smooth logistics and that the recipients receiving Habitat homes and Kids’ Meals would see the face and love of Jesus through these efforts.

· Decorate bags for kids’ meals. As we prepare for the event, please bless our families by picking up a stack of brown lunch bags, decorating them (no stickers please) and returning them to the Welcome Center before December 10. The bags are available for pick up in the Connection Center in a bin marked “Kids’ Meals.”

Register HERE for Christmas for the City and the Demeris BBQ lunch ($12).

Donate HERE  

A CROWDED HOUSE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Sunday, December 11, 5-6:30 p.m.

Last Crowded House for the season, come for Jesus, Christmas fun, games, food and gifts.

A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

Sunday, December 18, 9:30 a.m. in worship

Join the Chancel Choir, Worship Team, and guest musicians for a wonderful morning of worship through song and scripture as we celebrate Christ's birth together!

“LONG TIME, NO SEE” CHRISTMAS GATHERING

Sunday, December 18, 5-7 p.m.

Calling all high school juniors, seniors and college students. Come meet at the Tritt’s house to catch up and reconnect with some convo and Christmas cheer. Contact Daniel or Liz for more information.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP AT GRACE

Saturday, December 24

10:30 a.m. Jammies and Jingle Bells for kids and their families (Sanctuary)

3 p.m. Worship Service with Communion (Founders’ Chapel)

5 p.m. Candlelight Service (Sanctuary)

7 p.m. Grace en Espanol (Founders’ Chapel)

CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP

Sunday, December 25, 11 a.m., Founders’ Chapel

Simply Christmas in the chapel. Christmas morning celebration with classic Christmas carols and Christmas morning reflections. The childcare staff will be with their families on Christmas Day so keep your littles with you. 

NEW YEAR’S DAY WORSHIP

Sunday, January 1, 11 a.m., Founders’ Chapel

Simply New Year’s Day in the Chapel as we welcome in 2023. It will be a service of gratitude and opportunity with Communion as we look ahead to all that God provides. The childcare staff will be with their families so no childcare available.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE CHRISTMAS JOY

POINSETTIA DEDICATIONS

In celebration of the Advent season, consider dedicating a poinsettia flower to remember or honor someone you love. Dedications will be accepted through Sunday, December 11 and may be made online HERE. https://members.gpch.org/Registration?RegistrationInstanceId=661

Poinsettias you have dedicated will be available for personal pick up immediately after worship on Sunday, December 25 at 11 a.m.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGES FOR THE HOMEBOUND

Any time during the four weeks of Advent, stop by the table top Christmas tree located in the Welcome Center and choose an ornament. On the backside of the ornament is the name and address of a homebound member. Make someone’s day by sending a Christmas card with greetings of joy to your recipient as a way to love on those at home during the holidays and beyond.

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS GIVING

Grace supports many missionaries and mission partners doing the incredible work of our Lord and Savior both locally and globally. As an alternative gift for that someone special, consider supporting someone in the mission field on their behalf. You’ll find a complete list of Missionaries HERE and a list of local Grace Mission Partners HERE.

IDEAS ON WHAT TO SAY TO OTHERS THIS SEASON

Sometimes the craziness of the holidays distracts us from sharing the Good News of the season. Our big God wants even the smallest greeting shared in His name. Whether it’s a conversation or a quick note in a card, here are some ideas of how you can share His love and tell His story with others:

• May your days be filled with love and joy.

• Noel! Hope that the Christmas spirit fills every corner of your home

• May your Christmas be packed with treats, hugs, and laughter.

• Merry Christmas to someone who’s always on my “nice” list!

• Wishing you a festive Christmas season and a peaceful New Year!

• It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Sending you lots of Christmas cheer.

• A most jolly Christmas to you and yours!

• Feeling incredibly blessed to have you in my life this holiday season. Wishing all the best for you and yours.

• So lucky to be spending another Christmas with you.

• Holidays like Christmas remind me what I’m grateful for: you.

• The holidays are extra magical this year because I get to spend them with you.

• I know this past year has been tough, but I hope this holiday season brings you joy and happiness. I’m wishing you all the best iwith many blessings in the New Year.

• Having you in my life is the best Christmas present I could ever ask for.

• Just writing to put a smile on your face this Christmas season.

• May your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter.

• Wishing you a season that’s merry and bright!

• Celebrating the good news of Christmas and the blessing of knowing good people like you.

• Christmas is here and He is born! Hope your Christmas is blessed.

• Wishing joy to your world and peace to your heart this Christmas.

• So thankful for the blessing you are in my life. Merry Christmas.

• Glory to the newborn King! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

• Jesus is born! Have a merry Christmas.

• Hope you feel all the blessings and love sent down from heaven on that first Christmas.

• O come let us adore Him! Wishing lots of joy and love to you and yours this Christmas.

• Rejoicing with you in the birth of our Savior this Christmas season.

• May your spirit rejoice in the wonder of His birth. Wishing you a joy-filled Christmas season.

• Wishing you hope, peace, joy, and love as you celebrate Christmas.

Check your mail for a note from Pastor Julia and a prayer. For these next few weeks of stewardship we're asking the entire church to incorporate this prayer into their daily time with the Lord. Every ministry at Grace is covered in prayer and so it seems incredibly obedient to the Lord to cover this time of giving in a unified prayer as well. You may be surprised at how the Lord leads you to ministry and moves you to respond. There is so much good happening for His kingdom on your behalf!

Our 2023 session-approved budget is $3.7 million*. The plan to meet this budget goal is straightforward: mission and ministry. Money follows mission and ministry with a vision. It is clear that Jesus established disciple making as the mission of his church (Matthew 28:18-20) and Grace has adopted the same mission. “Make disciples by equipping people to make Jesus visible in their daily lives.”  

Here’s a snapshot of how God was on the move through your gifts this past year:

Over 400 women in three different Bible Studies

4,000 Kids’ Meals assembled for food insecure preschoolers

4 walls for a Habitat for Humanity home

An increase from 2 mentors to 45 mentors expanding from 1 school to 3 in Westchase

300 coats purchased for students in our partner schools

Over 160 school supply kits , 30 uniforms and 52 pairs of shoes for Stuff A Bus

329 people participated in our first year of disciple training EPIC classes

25 Disciple Groups formed with participants inside and outside our walls

680 Crowded House meals to fill up our students while they fill up on Jesus

40 students in summer mission trips

Over 3,000 touch points from deacons to the Grace family 

100 connections with clients and caregivers served through The Gathering

742 VBS participants learning, dancing and signing for Jesus (460 kids-83% non-members, 132 teens, 150 adults)

55 kids and students from Kinder-12th grade sharing the story of Jesus' birth through the Grace Kids Musical

Here’s a snapshot of ministry plans and vision for 2023:

Two new staff members focusing on outreach groups, disciple groups, recovery, young adult discipleship, and men’s ministry

Starting Alpha Ministry as one of our six Initiatives to train our church who will then reach out to the unchurched

Continuing the focus on building and multiplying Disciple Groups and young adults

Increasing the number of mentors in the classrooms of our partner school students for loving and intentional ministry

Building relationships with surrounding churches to grow Friends of Westchase and the neighbors we serve

Sending mission trips to global Living Water destinations, to the Texas border, Guatemala, Africa and possibly Budapest

Continuing three intentional tracks of EPIC courses that focus on discipleship

Growing our Student ministries through small groups, Abide worship, and multi-age leadership teams

Expanding children’s ministries with entry point connections with new families and in partnership with Grace en Espanol and the Holy Nation (Congo) Church

Leading worship opportunities connected with ministry efforts

How our vision translates into action?

The Session has six initiatives designed to create a culture of making disciples that make disciples to grow the church:

1. Worship Evolution—Because we want Jesus to be visible in our worship, we’re continuing to create intentional elements through word and song to make worship a more formative time.

2. Equipping Hour—We believe in transformational discipleship, so we’ve enriched the Equipping Hour with a series of practical discipleship trainings (EPIC), adding new courses each semester that compliment our ages and stages classes.

3. Discipleship Groups—Because discipleship is most effective around a smaller table, we continue to expand and multiply new groups of 3 to 5 people to explore what it means to be a follower of Christ and multiply His kingdom. 

4. Alpha Small Groups—We’re also called to make Jesus visible outside our walls, which is why we’re launching Alpha small groups.

5. Neighborhood Groups—Because we’re called to make Jesus visible across our city, we are developing a new neighborhood-based model of discipleship, which will launch later next year.

6. Serve our Neighbors—And we’re called to make Jesus visible to our brothers and sisters here in Houston and around the world, which is why we’ll continue to lock arms with Friends of Westchase here in West Houston and our Global Mission Partners around the world.

By committing your pledge on Commitment Sunday, November 20, you make it easier for the Ministry Support team to anticipate the church budgeting needs and plan for the future. Please prayerfully consider your 2023 pledge to Grace and its ministries. Thank you in advance for responding.

How to Give:

There are multiple ways to fulfill your commitment to Grace:

1. You may place cash or check payable to Grace Presbyterian Church into the offering plate on Sunday, November 20 or send it in advance by mail;

2. You may use the Grace website https://gpch.org/give-now. Use “Give Now” tab at the top of the homepage to make a recurring or onetime credit/debit card or electronic check payment;

3. You may set up Grace as a payee through your online banking institution to make scheduled donations that fit your timing and your budget.

If Want To Know More: 

The *link at the top of the page is to the $3.7 million budget allocation by ministry category. The pie chart graph will show you what expenses are allocated for each ministry category. 

For those who may be interested, there are Grace financial reports in the Session Minutes. You can find those minutes HERE. 

Additionally we currently have approximately $2.0 million in cash and are awaiting a bequest of $1.5 to 2.5 million. While it is comfortable to have a cash reserve, the Ministry Support team and Session are constantly looking at cost-savings options to make sure our expense and contribution budgets align. 

Thank you for joining together with the church in a unified prayer. May God bless you as you respond. 

In celebration of the Advent season, consider dedicating a poinsettia flower to remember or honor someone you love. Dedications will be accepted through Sunday, December 11 and may be made online HERE. Flowers you have dedicated will be available for personal pick up after worship on Sunday, December 25. 

Register your family and friends to join us for Gingerbread House Decorating Day! The houses will be pre-built for you to decorate with all the icing and candy you need to make a fun decoration to enjoy during the Christmas season. Purchase one house to decorate together or one for each person in your group and make it a fun competition. You can even take one to-go if you don’t have time to stay and decorate it that day. We’ll have other fun activities to enjoy as well… and we’ll do all the messy clean-up for you! Each house costs $25. Register HERE to reserve your spot now! 

ENCORE CHRISTMAS DAY TRIP

Tuesday, December 6, 9:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Shopping and lunch is on the agenda for this Christmas Day Trip. Old Town Spring is the historic location of a 19th century railroad hub which grew into Spring, Texas and is now home to over 100 local businesses! We’ll leave Grace, head to Old Town Spring, do some exploring and shopping plus enjoy a delicious lunch (dutch treat). Sign up at the Connection Center counter.