1.Cocoa and Coat Drive

Church-wide mission effort on Sunday, December 5 

We’ve been called, and acting quickly, to help three schools in the Westchase area by providing 300 coats for children in need.  The counselors at these schools have expressed the importance of giving the children something of equal value. In obedience to their request,  we are partnering with Operation Warm to get 300 coats of all sizes here at Grace. 
 
Now through Sunday, December 5 we have the opportunity to bless these children by purchasing a coat for $25.00. Come early to worship on December 5 or purchase your coat in advance online, write out a prayer card that goes with it and present the coat as part of our offering and blessing.

And as a side-note, but ever so popular, we are having a hot chocolate bar also on Sunday to enjoy while the coat drive is happening! Come early, buy a coat, drink some hot chocolate and share with your friends. Click HERE to buy a coat online.  

If you’d like to volunteer on the mission team with coat logistics, please contact  Kristy Elmore.

God is good! We can’t wait to be a blessing to these children!

2. Christmas for the City 2021

Sunday, December 12

We are excited for our 6th  annual Christmas for the City.  This year will feature the return of the wall build with Habitat for Humanity and continue our partnership with Kids’ Meals, Inc.  to pack 5,000 lunches. 

SCHEDULE:

•  9:30 a.m. Worship 
• 11:00 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 
•  2:00 p.m.   Kids’ Meals finished, load and deliver 
•  4:30 p.m.    Habitat wrap-up and clean-up 

We will worship wearing our Christmas for the City shirts and work attire so that following worship and lunch we will be ready! Christmas for the City T-shirts will be available for purchase Sunday mornings, December 5 and December 12. T-shirts are $10.

WHO CAN SERVE:

This year we will build walls for 4 Habitat homes for Houston families and package 5,000 individual lunches for preschool children in our city. 

•  Children ages 4-15 will have the opportunity to package lunches for Kids’ Meals 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 
•  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 HERE 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 five 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  
•  A financial contribution of your choice. 

Pray for the 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.” 

 Click HERE to register for the build, for Kids’ Meals and for the Demeris BBQ lunch.

3. Grace Worship Night - Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Sunday, December 5, Founders' Chapel

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 

5:00 p.m. Worship 

The holiday season can be difficult for those who are struggling with grief and loss. For others, Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes remind us that mourning is a normal, expected part of our lives in a world that is fragmented. How is God calling us into a richer life with Him, even in the midst of sorrow and pain? As we join together for evening worship we will look at how the season of Advent reflects not only on the Savior that came to save us all, but the promise and the hope that comes with knowing He will come again. 

6:00 p.m. Potluck Dinner 

Following worship will be a potluck dinner in Massey Tucker Hall. In December please bring your favorite holiday dish-enough to feed your family plus four more. This can be a main dish, side dish, dessert or anything in between. Just drop your goodies in MTH before worship then we’ll enjoy them after worship! 

Livestream Worship for Sunday, November 28

If you are out of town or unable to join us for in-person worship this Sunday, please click HERE to join us online. This week’s scripture reading is Jeremiah 33:3.

Please take a moment to read the scripture and prepare your heart for this week’s message.

Christmas at Grace

Please visit our 2021 Christmas at Grace webpage HERE. You’ll find everything you need from service opportunities, special events, worship services and more all in one place for the Advent season.

Financial Update

• 2021 Collections Goal - $3,650,000
• Actual 2021 Collections to Date - $2,356,219
• Amount Needed Prior to Year End - $1,293,781

We are 88 percent through 2021 and have collected 65 percent of our goal. This puts us $843,781 behind our goal to date.

If you need to update your giving, please take a moment and do that online at gpch.org/give. You also can mail your gift to the church office (10221 Ella Lee Lane, 77042) or bring it to worship on Sunday.

2022 Stewardship-Deep Roots, Deep Love  

For those who were able to pledge in person or online on Sunday, November 14 we deeply thank you. There is still opportunity to invest in Grace and make your 2022 estimate of giving of your time, talents and treasures. To learn more, pledge electronically or see a breakdown of the 2021 budget visit gpch.org/stewardship. 

Save the Date

Saturday, December 4 Gingerbread House Building
Sunday, December 5

• Cocoa and Coats (before and during worship)
• Grace Worship Night + Potluck Dinner

Monday, December 6 Concert and Lunch with Rob Landes
Thursday, December 9 Encore Day Trip
Sunday, December 12

• Grace Kid's Musical
• Christmas for the City - Habitat for Humanity Build and Kid's Meal Assembly

Sunday, December 19 A Festival of Lessons and Carols
Friday, December 24

Christmas Eve Services:

• 10:30 a.m. Jammies and Jingle Bells
• 3:00 p.m. Worship Service with Communion
• 5:00 p.m. Candlelight Service
• 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Service
• 7:00 p.m. Grace en Espanol

Saturday, January 2 Epiphany Sunday
Sunday, January 9 Grace Worship Night
Sunday, January 16 Confirmation begins, grades 8-12

What else is happening at Grace?

Simply click on each button below to read all the respective Worship, Equip, Serve, and Together announcements.

• Worship - worship services, giving opportunities, and leadership news
• Equip - ministry groups and events for Adults, Children, and Students
• Serve - opportunities to serve our communities
• Together - news and updates about the people and friends of Grace