No nursery staff this week Unfortunately, due to nursery staff being unavailable, we cannot provide childcare until February.
Advent Book Series: The Book of Joy His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams, Sundays at 9:15am November 30th – December 21st, in the Parish Hall In April 2015, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamsala, India to celebrate His Holiness’s eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their lives to answer a question: How do we find joy in the face of suffering? By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our times and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. These two inspirational people survived more than fifty years of exile and soul-crushing violence of oppression. And yet despite their hardships – or, as they said, because of them – they considered themselves two of the most joyful people on the planet.
Messiah Sing-along, Sunday, December 21 at 5:00 pm. Come join us for a sing-along of Handel’s Messiah in the Grace Church sanctuary. Sing the choruses along with the orchestra and soloists who will participate in this festive occasion. Last year, this event filled the church and was very joyous. We will provide scores if you need one and want to sing, or simply come and listen to all of the glorious music. Cash or check donations will benefit the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund of the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
Joy of Living Group, 7:00-8:30 p.m., 2nd and 4th Mondays This group combines meditation, practices integrated in the flow of life, and discussion. Next meeting, in the Connector: December 22, 2025.
The Grace Church Stewardship campaign for 2026 To date 130 pledges have come in totaling $447,732 – most encouraging, we have 4 new pledges. We are off to a good start. To those who have pledged God Bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2026. If you need a pledge card, they are available as you enter the church or you can contact the office (413) 256-6754.
Drivers needed The Pastoral Care committee is looking for folks to deliver Christmas treats to homebound parishioners. Holiday packages are in the Connector after the services today, addressed and grouped by geographical location. Please take one (or several!) to bring to our Grace family members.
Christmas Collection As is tradition, Grace Church divides its collections made at Christmas between a local charity and a more global charity. This year, Grace’s Outreach Commission has chosen Craig’s Doors and The International Rescue Committee’s work in Lebanon. We hope that you will once again give generously to help those in need. Winter is especially hard on those in our community that are currently unhoused. Established in 2011, Craig’s Doors is a human services organization that provides vulnerable and unhoused members of our community with emergency shelter, food, and safety, as well as access to the resources they need to achieve physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Lebanon is experiencing a severe economic crises and being impacted by the spillover effects of regional conflicts, all while hosting the most refugees per capita of any country in the world. The International Rescue Commission is providing critical support to refugees in Lebanon and the communities that host them.
The Church Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, December 25 & 26.
Important Year-End-Note If you would like your end-of-year donations to count as a 2025 tax deduction, checks must be dated 2025 and received no later than Thursday, January 1, 2026. Anything received after that date will count towards your 2026 deductions. However, pledges for 2025 may still be paid after this date; they will just be recorded as being received in 2026. Jaana Cutson, Bookkeeper
Christmas Services
Christmas Eve
4:00pm Holy Eucharist with Christmas Pageant
8:00pm Holy Eucharist with choral prelude at 7:30
11:00pm Holy Eucharist with musical prelude at 10:45
Christmas Day
10:00am Holy Eucharist
Sunday, December 28th
9:30am Holy Eucharist with Christmas Lessons and Carols
Coffee Hour Coffee hour is a lovely tradition and we hope to see you there after the 10:30 service. The hospitality committee keeps a small supply of treats on hand but this often is not enough. Won’t you please be so kind as to donate a baked good for all to enjoy? Coffee cakes, quick breads, muffins, or bagels are always appreciated as well as other baked goods. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. Please see Sarah Chadwick if you have questions or want to help out further.
The Flower Guild at Grace is inviting new members. If you enjoy seeing flowers on the chancel, perhaps you would like to join our team. We need you and you might like it! You can try it out by partnering with someone on the guild. EMAIL US. Maria Dye or Lou Currin
You are welcome! We want you to know that you are welcome here. If you are new to Grace Church please reach out, because we are here to invite, embrace, and welcome you into our community. Whether you are :
- New to the area
- New to our church (and perhaps new to the Episcopal faith)
- A longtime resident in search of connection and community
- Part of the LGBTQ community and are looking for a spiritual home where you are welcomed and affirmed
- A New Student, looking for a place of safety and comfort during your time studying here
- A Mom or Dad of a student and want a place that will support your child while they live and study here
We are here for you. Please fill out a blue Card, and reach out to someone wearing a WELCOME badge and come back AGAIN !
Vestry Meeting Minutes Minutes of the most recent Vestry meeting are posted on the bulletin board in the Connector just to the left of the door into the Church. If you wish to see past meeting minutes, please go to our website at https://www.gracechurchamherst.org/our-church/parish-staff/