December 5, 2019

Home Stretch

If you have every watched a horse race, then you have heard the announcer say in an excited voice, “And they’re coming down the home stretch!” What a moment it is when the horses have made the last turn and are on their way to the winning post. There is certainly something energizing about the final stage of the race.

Here at Grace, we are in the “home stretch.” This week we are hopeful to see completion of the most tangible enhancements made possible by the READY campaign. The majority of renovations will be done by Sunday morning, but we will have a long punch list that will continue to be completed over the next month. We just couldn’t wait to celebrate with you!

Thanks to your generosity, prayers, and patience, the Grace campus has been transforming to a more welcoming place with more relevant space in order that we may continue extending grace. What an exciting time it is in the life of Grace — a READY CHURCH of READY PEOPLE.

This Sunday we will be celebrating the incredible reality that, for 50 years, God has been active in and through the people of Grace. We will gather together at 10 a.m. for one service to give the Lord the glory for all He has done and promises to continue to do. I am overjoyed to be part of such a golden time in the life of this extraordinary congregation.

As I have watched the transformation of this campus in recent months, I have noticed boxes with the LOWES logo on them. You may not think much of a cardboard box, but it was the tag line on the box that caught my attention: “Never stop improving.” Friends, there is great wisdom for us in those words.

I hope and pray that we will continue to hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God. I hope we will continue to live our lives with great expectancy of how God will use us for His glory. But also, I hope we will have the courage to follow where He leads us in the next 50 years. Finally, I pray we will not become complacent in our spiritual journeys but instead will keep the fervor, as if every day we are coming down the home stretch.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-6).

I am humbled and honored to be your pastor. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Peace,
Trey

P.S. One more thing, be sure to check out THIS article our very own, Amy French wrote about our wonderful history and celebration of "50 Years of Extending Grace."
gather
Christmas at Grace

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 at 3 p.m. 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

Christmas
In The Courtyard!
One Sunday Only

Sunday, December 8, 9:30 - 10 a.m.
and 11:15 a.m. -12:45 p.m.

This year Christmas in the Courtyard will be held only on December 8 due to the construction schedule and an exciting and full December calendar. Join us in the courtyard for hot chocolate, fellowship and opportunities to support the following ministries:

  • The Brookwood Community - poinsettias for sale
  • Elijah Rising - candles for purchase
  • Global Missionaries - give a financial gift & receive a prayer card
  • Christmas for the City - register, give financial support, or purchase a T-shirt
  • Guatemala School Project – shawls, calendars & coffee for sale

Christmas For The City
T-Shirt Sales

Sunday, December 8 & 15,
8:30-9:30 a.m., Grace Courtyard

You can purchase official Christmas for the City shirts for $10 beginning this week! We have both adult and children’s sizes available.

 

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.

Women of Grace
"Home for the Holidays" Luncheon

Monday, December 9
Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
Program/Luncheon begins at 11 a.m.
Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall

The Women of Grace invite you to a Christmas celebration featuring seasonal music by one of Houston’s favorite entertainers, Rob Landes! You will not want to miss this opportunity so please sign up now! Denise Phelps will offer a special Advent devotional, and the luncheon tables will shine with festive arrangements for Christmas. Plan now to make “Home for the Holidays” a shining part of your Christmas celebration!

Make your reservations with your circle or by signing up on Sunday at the WOG table in the courtyard. Cost of the luncheon is $10.

Toy Drive
For Christmas For The City

Put on your Santa hats and let's load up his sleigh! Help us provide a toy for a child at the Kids' Meals Christmas Party. Bring new, unwrapped toys to The Backyard on Sundays or in the donation boxes near the reception desk during the week through Dec. 15. For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015).

December 29 Worship - One Service At 10 a.m.

Our worship service on December 29 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.

 

Christmas For The City

Sunday, December 15

We are excited for the entire church to come together for our 4th annual Christmas for the City. This year will feature the return of the wall build with Habitat for Humanity, continue our relationship with Kids’ Meals, Inc. to pack meals and wrap gifts, and support our partnership with West Houston Assistance Ministries as we collect blankets, jackets, and socks.

Here is our schedule: 

  • 10:00 a.m. Worship: One combined worship service featuring Grace Kids Music
  • 11:15 a.m. Check-in and purchase your lunch
  • 11:30 a.m. Lunch catered by Demeris BBQ
  • 12:30 p.m. Welcome & Prayer before Work projects begin
  • 4:30 p.m. Wrap-up and clean-up

There will be service opportunities for all ages. You can register to serve and to provide financial support for our efforts HERE.

Christmas Donation Sunday

Sunday, December 15

This year your donations will support our partner West Houston Assistance Ministries. Bring all your donations with you on our Christmas for the City big day! Many of WHAM’s clients sleep outside during the winter, unprotected from the cold. They need our help. Let us blanket them with love by donating:

  • blankets
  • jackets, and
  • socks for homeless men and women.

Donations will be collected in designated bins on December 15. For more information, contact Nancy Bailey at nbailey@gpch.org; 713-267-5035).

 

Gingerbread House Decorating Day

Saturday, December 21, 10-11:30 a.m., Massey-Tucker Fellowship Hall

Children’s Ministries invites EVERYONE to our Gingerbread House Decorating Day! And by everyone, we mean families, couples, your best girlfriends group..., you get the idea. Register your whole party, and pay for the number of houses you want to take home. Every $15 gets you a pre-baked, pre-built house with icing and enough holiday candy to create your perfect Christmas creation. Buy one house for the group, or get everyone their own and make a friendly competition to see who can come up with the most creative concoction. We’ll clean everything up at the end! For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267 5015). Register HERE.

Create a Canned Food Christmas Tree

Tuesday, December 24, 3 p.m.
in the sanctuary

Help create a special Canned Food Christmas Tree during the offering at the Kids’ Christmas Celebration service. Bring canned food items for WHAM (West Houston Assistance Ministries) to give to families in need. Let’s “grow” the biggest Christmas tree we can out of your canned goods! For more information, contact Lisa Ann Henkel (lhenkel@gpch.org; 713-267-5015).
gather
Gather

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.

 

Now You Can Give
On the Go!

Mobile giving is a quick, easy, and convenient way to support the ministries and missions of Grace. 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. 
Connect
Connect

Crowded House: Food.Faith.Friends.

Sundays 6 p.m. 

All high school and middle school students and their friends are invited to join a small group for dinner and Bible study. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to grow in their faith and build meaningful friendships with other students in their grade. Locations vary by grade and can be found online HERE. For more information, contact Lindsey McDonald (lmcdonald@gpch.org).

12/8 - Crowded House Christmas Parties! Last Crowded House until January 12.

Join PONDER
Sunday School Class:
"Farm to Table"

Sundays 10:15 a.m.
Massey-Tucker Hall, Room C

Everyone is welcome to join the "Farm to Table” Sunday school class led by Jenny Gottschalk and Doug Gleditsch. The class utilizes the PONDER Bible study format, and each lesson is "stand alone," so it's a great opportunity to try this wonderful way to look deeply into God's word.

Confirmation 2020

Sundays, January 19 - May 10, 2020

Confirmation is open to all students 8th grade and above who are interested in going through the confirmation process. The class will utilize Scripture and the Church Creeds to guide students through the story of God and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and a member of His Church.

Confirmation will meet on Sunday mornings starting January 19 through May 3 in LC 206 from 10:15-11:15 a.m. with a mandatory retreat the weekend of April 24-26. Confirmation Sunday will be held on Sunday, May 10. Students will be recognized at both the contemporary (9 a.m.) and traditional (11:15 a.m.) services. Cost is $50. Each student will receive a journaling Bible and Confirmation packet. For details and registration, click HERE. If you need more information, contact Phil Warman (pwarman@gpch.org; 713-267-8704).

Children's Ministries Sunday School -
December Schedule

12/8 - NO Sunday School - Grace at 50 Service
12/15 - NO Sunday School - GKM and Christmas for the City
12/22 - Sunday School - The Nativity Story - Pajama Party Birthday Bash for Jesus (wear your jammies to The Backyard/Treehouse; we will!)
12/29 - No Sunday School - Jazz Sunday

High School
Sunday Mornings

10:15-11 a.m.
Massey-Tucker Hall, Room 207

All high school students and their friends are invited to join us for food, a fun game, and a devotion on Sundays.

12/8 - No Sunday School - Grace at 50
12/15 - No Sunday School - GKM and Christmas for the City
12/22 - Reindeer Games
12/29 - No Sunday School - Jazz Sunday

Middle School
Sunday Mornings

10:15-11 a.m.
Massey-Tucker Hall, Room 201

All middle school students and their friends are invited to join us for food, a fun game, and a devotion on Sundays.

12/8 - No Sunday School - Grace at 50
12/15 - No Sunday School - GKM and Christmas for the City
12/22 - Reindeer Games
12/29 - No Sunday School - Jazz Sunday

 

Help Feed
Our Student Ministry
on Sundays

Everyone knows that students love to eat, so can you help feed them to make their Sunday mornings extra sweet? Please click on this Sign Up Genius to contribute. Thank you in advance for your help and for your support in making Sunday mornings an awesome time for our students!
Bless
Bless

Feeling Down?
Stephen Ministry Can Help

Stephen Ministers aren’t just there for “big” crises. They are also available for the little ones, because many times the little things can really add up, especially at this time of year. So don’t wait until you have a really big crisis. Consider Stephen Ministry if the little things have you feeling down. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, contact Denise Phelps at dphelps@gpch.org or Susan Jernigan at 713-582-3332.

Christian-Based
Counseling Available
at Grace

Thursdays, 1-5 p.m.

Christian-based counseling sessions are available through a Licensed Professional Counselor at Grace Presbyterian Church on Thursdays from 1-5 p.m. for a nominal fee. For more information/appointments call 281-881-8512 or email donnasullivan6697@gmail.com.

Looking Ahead in 2019… SAVE the DATE!

December 8, Grace at 50 Anniversary Celebration: ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
December 8, Christmas in the Courtyard including Brookwood Poinsettia sales
December 15, Grace Kids Musical & Christmas for the City:
                         ONE Worship Service at 10 a.m.
December 15, WHAM Christmas Donation Day
December 15, Christmas for the City: Habitat Build and Kids' Meals, Inc. projects
December 21, Gingerbread House Decorating Day
December 22, Pajama Party Birthday Bash for Jesus in The Backyard/TreeHouse                             — wear jammies to Sunday School
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 Service 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 29, ONE worship service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary