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Daily
Pause for a moment and consider how many things you do or celebrate on an annual basis. For example, we are in the midst of the Advent season in the life of the church. Likewise, we are only a few weeks away from Christmas Day — also an annual occasion. As you read this email, I will be in Eagle Lake, Texas on a goose/duck hunt with the not-so-famous Blue Dot Club. The Blue Dot Club consists of a group of my dear friends, and this will be our 29th annual trip together. The point is, whether it is a holiday season or gatherings with friends, we all have calendar items that we honor on an annual basis.
Now, pause for a moment and consider your daily routine. I recognize that we brush our teeth, sleep a few hours, eat a few meals and tend to other basic activities on a daily basis. However, do we choose to celebrate the coming of Christ daily? Do we gather with dear friends for laughter and conversation daily?
It seems to me that we should honor our daily schedules as we do our annual schedules.
Psalm 5:11 reminds us, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
Perhaps this Advent season we will rejoice daily in the name of Jesus. Maybe we will make it a point to rest daily in the refuge of His love but also sing for joy that we have expectant hope. You see, this does not have to be something we only experience on an annual basis—this is a reality we can embrace daily.
I want to share with you an email I received this week—perhaps it will kick-start your joy by bringing a smile to your face. The email read, “When you think of riding the subway, laughter and joy aren’t the first words that spring to mind. It’s a cramped place full of grumpy people either coming home from a bad day at work or just generally upset. Yet if you’re lucky enough, sometimes you can find happiness in a subway train. One such magical moment was captured when a Belgian advertising agency working with Coca-Cola hired an actor to randomly start laughing on the train.”
I encourage you to take a minute or so out of your day to watch THIS VIDEO—you may just choose to smile and laugh a little.
What do you need to add to your calendar today?
I hope you have a great day. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Peace, Trey |
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Mark Your Calendars for Christmas Eve at Grace
Christmas Eve Worship, December 24
- 3 p.m. Kids Christmas Celebration: A Not-So-Silent Night! service
in the Sanctuary
- 3 p.m. Traditional service with Communion in the Founders’ Chapel
- 5 p.m. Contemporary service with candle lighting in the Sanctuary
- 7 p.m. Grace en Español service with Communion and candle lighting
in the Founders’ Chapel
- 7 p.m. Traditional service with candle lighting in the Sanctuary
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Christmas Poinsettia Donations
Every Advent, the Grace Sanctuary is filled with poinsettias given in honor or in memory of someone. Now through December 16, you may purchase a poinsettia on the website: gpch.org/poinsettia. Donations that do not accompany the proper form cannot be guaranteed for inclusion in the Christmas Eve bulletin.
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Surprise Wall
The sermon series for Advent and Christmas is “While We Wait.” Together, the Grace family will explore ways to prepare for the promise of this season while we wait for the birth of our Savior. There will be a Surprise Wall display in the narthex through December 23. On that wall will be tags that will provide simple, meaningful ideas of ways to surprise someone with an unexpected blessing this Advent season. Please be encouraged to choose a “Surprise Tag” each week and commit to making Jesus visible “between Sundays” while we are waiting for Christmas. Share your stories on social media of how you are making Jesus visible in the waiting days of Advent with #whilewewait.
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December 30 Worship
One Service at 10 a.m.
Our worship service on December 30 will feature Christmas carols led by the Chancel Choir accompanied by the group Jazz Sunday, a Houston-based jazz combo. Sunday school classes will not meet this day. Child care is available for children ages newborn through kindergarten.
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Christmas in the Courtyard
December 9, 16, and 23
Join us anytime from 8:30-11:30 a.m. to celebrate the season with Christmas in the Grace Courtyard, complete with a hot chocolate bar and cookies, and opportunities to support Christmas for the City, Kendleton Farms/Elijah Rising (pecans and decorative candles), the Guatemala School Project, and the Grace Girls High School in Kenya.
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Christmas for the City
December 16
We are excited for the entire church to come TOGETHER for our 3rd annual Christmas for the City. This year will feature the return of our Habitat for Humanity wall build, assembling meals with Children’s Hunger Fund and some new exciting additions to our time together. We will worship together, eat lunch together, and serve together! This year, TOGETHER we will build the walls for FIVE Habitat homes for Houston families and package 36,000 meals for people in our city. Please visit gpch.org/christmasforthecity to support this event and to register to participate!
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Stewardship
Although the official Stewardship season will commence January 27 through Commitment Sunday on February 10, please keep in mind that your generosity is important to Grace’s year-end giving.
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Now You Can Give
On the Go!
In less time than it takes to write a check, you can now make contributions using your smartphone at church or anytime. Mobile giving is a quick, easy, and convenient way to support the ministries and missions of Grace.
Online giving is easy to set up, and you can make a one-time gift or automatic recurring contributions with your designated bank account or credit card. You are also able to view your complete giving history.
Using your smartphone’s camera or code reader app, you can scan this QR code to go straight to the secure Grace online giving webpage. Follow the prompts to create or login to your giving profile, and in just a few clicks, your contribution is made. |
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Out Of Town This Sunday? Watch Us On Facebook Live Each Week!
We love gathering together each Sunday as a Grace family! But, if you are unable to join us for worship, there are two ways to join us online: on our homepage or live on our Facebook page.
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Here's What We're Learning in The Backyard
December 9
Bible Story: Someone Like You (Gabriel Appears to Mary) • Luke 1:26-56 (Supporting: Luke 1:5-25)
Bottom Line: God can use ANYONE to meet others' needs.
Memory Verse: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIrV)
Life App: Compassion—Caring enough to do something about someone else’s need
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated. |
The Backyard
and TreeHouse
Mission Project:
Children's Hunger Fund
Bring back all your change for Project Coin Pak (Children's Hunger Fund) THIS SUNDAY, Dec. 9. Every 25 cents added to the box provides 1 meal for a hungry child! |
Middle School Girls' Christmas Party
December 9, 4-6 p.m.,
Angie Williamson's Home
There will be snacks. There will be presents. There will be candy. There will be Santa. Maybe! There will definitely be a crazy sock exchange. Don’t forget to wear your Christmas sweater! Register HERE! |
Inspire! Spring Bible Study
Registration Opens December 1
The Christmas season is rich with opportunities to learn how God's relentless love for us gave us the perfect gift. Women’s Ministries members encourage you to slow down this season and ponder the Greatest Gift of All: Immanuel—God with Us—Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We also look forward to sharing more of God’s great love story in 2019. So, mark your calendars and go to to sign up HERE for our women’s bible studies that will start in January. Until then, our prayer is that the hope, love, joy and peace of Christmas will surround you, and you will be the light that brings this Good News to those who need to hear it. |
Children's Ministries Events:
- Dec. 9 – The Backyard and TreeHouse Sunday School
- Dec. 16 — Grace Kids Musical (GKM) for the City at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary
- Dec. 23 – The Backyard and TreeHouse Sunday School Pajama Party
- Dec. 24 — Kids Christmas Celebration: A Not-So-Silent Night! worship at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary
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Here's What We're Learning in the TreeHouse
December 9
Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Key Question: Why is Jesus special?
Bottom Line: Jesus is God’s Son.
Memory Verse: “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.” • John 3:16
Bible Story Focus: Not everyone knew Jesus is God’s Son.
Jesus Born in a Stable • Luke 2:1-7 |
High School
Spring Break Ski Trip
March 9-15, 2019
Grab your mittens and beanie, dust off your snow boots, and wash your long-johns because we are going skiing! We are excited to announce that Grace’s High School Ministry is headed to Monarch Mountain in beautiful Colorado for Spring Break. For more detailed information, please click HERE. A $200 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. Registration closes January 15, 2019. For more information, please contact Matt Davis (mdavis@gpch.org; 713-267-8704). |
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While We Wait | Blessing Opportunities
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West Houston Assistance Ministries Collection
Provide Christmas Meals
Donate food items or $25 HEB or Kroger gift cards. Families in need will receive a gift card plus all the fixings to accompany the main dish they will purchase with the gift card. Please donate: canned vegetables, canned fruit and yams, potatoes or stuffing mix, broth, canned fruit pie fillings, cake mix and icing, canned or dry gravy mix.
Donate New Warm Blankets
for the Homeless
Provide a nice warm blanket (fleece, flannel, or cotton) to be shared with the homeless this holiday season. Blankets can be dropped off at WHAM’s main entrance that faces Meadowglen (10501 Meadowglen Lane, Houston 77042). Please ring the doorbell if the attendant isn't there, and ask for Sonya Scott or Kim Hill. For additional information, please contact Judy Dewey (judydewey@att.net; 713-502-1945).
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California Wildfire Response -
Donate Gift Cards
Please donate gift cards (Target, Walmart or general VISA gift card) to the people of California. Let us join together to offer hope and encouragement to those navigating the destruction and loss from the current raging California wildfires covering over 150,000 acres. Grace Presbyterian will make sure donated cards are distributed by a local church to people in the impacted areas. Please drop off gift cards on Sunday mornings at the Welcome Center in the Sanctuary foyer or at the receptionist desk during the week. For questions, please contact Karen Anderson (karenanderson10@aol.com; 281-989-3812). |
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Star of Hope Drive -
Cases of Water
Star of Hope’s supply of water bottles to be handed out to the homeless is extremely low. To meet this need, Star of Hope has asked Grace to collect cases of water bottles for Christmas. Please bring a case of 24 twelve-once water bottles to be dropped off in the courtyard on Sundays or inside Massey-Tucker Hall during the week through December 16. Please help us reach our goal of 84 cases. For more information, contact Chris French (cfrench@gpch.org; 713-267-5039).
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Young Lives Initiative
of Young Life – Prepare and Serve a Christmas Meal
Join with others from Grace to prepare a Christmas meal for Young Lives. Young Lives is a ministry of Young Life especially for teen moms and their babies. Young Lives provides teen girls with timely encouragement, guidance and ongoing support by modeling Jesus Christ’s love through the investment of time and walking alongside teen moms through their lives. The date to serve is the evening of December 13. To sign up, please contact Debbie Kaplan at debbiekaplan@att.net.
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Thank You!
Grace collected/donated 270 lbs. of food items for West Houston Assistance Ministries!! Thank you for helping make Jesus visible to those in need!
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Manna From Grace
Saturday December 8, 10 a.m.
at the home of Martha Whitten (832-209-6024)
Bakers, please put on your aprons and make your home smell like Christmas; we will be packaging a variety of your favorite homemade Christmas cookies. We will be filling 50 containers. Please bring 5 dozen of your favorite Christmas cookies. If you are unable to join us on Saturday, you may drop them off at the church on December 9 before 9:30 a.m.
Cookie containers will be ready for delivery after noon from the church offices on the 3rd floor of Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall. Becky Morris will have a list ready for you to deliver to neighbors or friends who would enjoy the memories of homemade Christmas cookies. Deacons will be helping with the deliveries in their regions. |
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Post-Harvey
Home Blessings
As they move back into their restored homes or relocate to different permanent homes, flooded families may request a team of Grace members to offer prayers of blessing. We have created a "walk-through" prayer pamphlet that the blessing team uses from the front door throughout the home to pray a hedge of protection and God's glorification in this journey.
You may request a home blessing by completing this form. Denise Phelps will contact you to schedule a blessing time and put together a team.
If you would like to be a part of a home blessing prayer team, you can volunteer by completing this form. It offers options for the days, times of day, and zip code where you might be a blessing to our flooded families. We will be in touch with you when an opportunity arises that meets with your availability.
We remain committed to walk alongside families still recovering from the aftermath of Harvey. Prayers continue to be lifted for continued healing, restoration, and rebuilding.
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The Santa Tree is Back
Share the joy of Christmas by simply sending a card. There is a small tree adorned with lights and Christmas labels in the Sanctuary Lobby. On each label, there is the name and address of members who would be blessed by receiving a call or a card during the Christmas season. We invite you to make Jesus visible by sharing the love this Christmas. |
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Mission Trip Opportunity: Haiti with Living Water International
Grace is excited to send two teams to Northern Haiti in 2019. Team One will travel February 10-16 and Team Two will go March 24-30. Each team will drill a clean water well, lead hygiene and sanitation classes and share the gospel with the local community. For more information, answers to commonly asked questions, and to watch a video about the need for clean water in Haiti, please click HERE. |
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Stephen Ministry
They Are Among Us. No, we’re not talking about angels or aliens. We’re talking about individuals who care about others. The Scriptures describe their service well: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). If you or someone you know wants to do more as a Christian caregiver, consider Stephen Ministry. This is our congregation’s one-to-one caregiving ministry. Training begins Tuesday evening, January 15, 2019. Please contact Denise Phelps (dphelps@gpch.org; 713-267-5063) for more information.
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Looking Ahead in 2018… SAVE the DATE!
December 16, Grace Kids Musical & Christmas for the City Habitat Build – ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
December 24, Christmas Eve Services:
• 3 p.m. Traditional worship with Communion in The Founders’ Chapel
• 3 p.m. Kids Christmas Celebration: A Not-So-Silent Night! in the Sanctuary
• 5 p.m. Contemporary worship in the Sanctuary
• 7 p.m. Traditional worship in the Sanctuary
• 7 p.m. Grace en Español worship in The Founders’ Chapel
December 30, ONE worship service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary
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