Times of. Grace TO RAISE UP GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE BUILT TO LAST. Sunday Sermon Series: December 4, 11, 18

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1 DECEMBER 2016 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 12 Times of Grace TO RAISE UP GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE BUILT TO LAST Sunday Sermon Series: December 4, 11, 18 Christmas Eve Services: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00 PM A four-part biblical Advent sermon series that looks into the personal lives of four sets of characters: % Elizabeth & Zechariah (December 4) % Herod (December 11) % Joseph & Mary (December 18) % The Innkeeper (Christmas Eve, December 24) Christmas Eve will feature four candlelight services at 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00 PM. Childcare is provided for birth thru preschool at all four services. Join us Christmas Day (December 25) for our one Family Worship Service, Paradise Lost at 11:15 AM only. We will look at what Jesus left behind when He came to Earth. No childcare provided.

2 3 Reasons to Download the Grace Church on the Mount App TODAY: Past Sunday sermons available at your fingertips Emergency alerts Contribute your tithes and offerings right from your mobile device Vertical: Monthly Communion Service Wednesday, December 7, 7:00 PM This month we draw to a close our series: All You Need is Love: Growing Great Relationships. In this final installment, we will be exploring the great love passage from 1 Corinthians chapter 13. If love really is the greatest gift, why is it so hard to find? People sometimes wrestle internally while living in a loveless relationship. Should I stay? Should I walk? What should I do? Let s look to God s Word for answers. Childcare provided for birth thru preschool. Raising a child in today s world can be a frightening proposition. If you are a new parent and want to dedicate yourself to raising your child to be a follower of Christ, YOU NEED HELP! Grace Church on the Mount is here for you. You can participate in our next Child Dedication on Sundays, December 25 or January 1. This is a service in which you make public your desire to raise your child following biblical principles and you seek the help and support of your church family. If interested, please attend the class for parents on Sunday, December 18 at 9:45 AM in the Church Office. If you would like to participate in this service, contact Mary Ann in the Church Office at maryann@grace4families.com or The Bible teaches us, and Jesus commands us that as true followers of Him, we are to proclaim our personal faith in him by being baptized. If you have not yet taken that step of faith, please contact the Church Office. We would love to have one of our Elders sit with you and discuss this important decision. The next Baptism Sunday will be on February 12 at all four services. Baptism is also available at any Vertical Service. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Mary Ann in the Church Office at or maryann@grace4families.com.

3 Sunday, January 22 Either 12:30-1:30 PM in Room 200 or 4:30-5:30 PM in the Grace Café Are you new at Grace or desiring church membership? We want to invite you to one of two options for you to get to know more about our church and meet our leaders. You will be able to learn helpful information about Grace Church that will enable you to decide whether Grace is the place for you. You won t want to miss this special opportunity. Grace 101 will be hosted by Armin Sommer on Sunday, January 22 at 12:30 PM in Room 200. You will enjoy a light meal, listen to a brief presentation and have the opportunity to ask questions. If you attend the 6 PM service, you may want to attend Grace 101 at 4:30 PM that will be led by Pastor Segun Aiyegbusi. Sign up in the church lobby or contact Mary Ann at or maryann@grace4families.com to let us know you will be there. Grace 101 is the first class in our membership series. So if you would like to make Grace your church home, this is the place to start. Childcare is available with advanced sign up. Sunday, January 22 Either 12:30-1:30 PM in Room 200 or 4:30-5:30 PM in the Grace Café Sunday, January 29 4:00-6:00 PM in the Youth Room If you have been coming to Grace for a while, you may want to take the next step and join us as an official member. The first step in doing that would be to attend our Membership Class series. The initial class, Grace 101, is being held on Sunday, January 22 from 12:30-1:30 PM in Room 200, or 4:30-5:30 PM in the Grace Café. Senior Pastor Armin Sommer will be teaching the early time slot and Pastor Segun Aiyegbusi will teach the 4:30 PM class. This class will tell you everything you want to know about Grace. The next class is January 29, from 4:00-6:00 PM in the Youth Room. Please plan to come to Grace 101 if you are even considering becoming an official member. Sign up in the lobby or contact Mary Ann in the church office at or maryann@grace4families.com. Childcare is available with advanced sign up. Welcome to Grace! Sunday Services: 8:15, 9:45, 11:15 AM & 6:00 PM We are so glad that you are here today! The holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year s Day is filled with activity, planning, expectations and frequently stress. It is our hope that in your time worshipping, you will come to know the peace and joy that is faith in Jesus Christ. He is the reason for the season and so much more; our faith in Him strengthens and encourages all of us throughout the year. Again, we are happy that you are joining us! Our website, will give you more information on our vision and our staff, and you can view or listen to past Sunday messages. A ministry of the church is looking for volunteers to periodically lead worship for a small gathering at Grace. If you are interested in serving in this on-going ministry contact Maureen at

4 Single Young Adults Monday Evenings, 6:30-8:30 PM Grace, Room 100 A small group for Single Young Adults, ages 26-36, who are interested in studying God s Word, building relationships, and participating in outreach. We don t believe in singleness as a label, but a season and an opportunity to grow in our knowledge of the Word, to fellowship and build relationships with other brothers and sisters in Christ and to reach out to a lost world. We will meet once a week on Monday evenings at 6:30-8:30 PM to study the Word, have monthly get-togethers for fellowship and fun and connect with Christian-based organizations to serve. We would love to have you join us! Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Kevin Schulze at kschulze83@gmail.com has been an excellent year for the Grace Small Groups ministry, and the Small Groups Leadership Team and I cannot thank our volunteers and small group members enough! We've seen God add to both the number of small group leaders and participants, expand the variety of topics studied, and demonstrate His love for us through the people involved in the Grace small groups. This Christmas season, I encourage you to join a sermon-based small group, we will be studying a different advent topic each week! Scott McCrea Small Groups Coordinator Join us for an in-depth Bible study as we dig deeper into the current Sunday sermon and answer relevant questions about how it applies to our lives. This group is open to anyone seeking to learn! Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Nurys Garcia at ngarcia1824@gmail.com. Hosts: George and Toni Perry Join us for our study, entitled, ANGELS: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (A 12-Week Study by Dr. Tony Evans) What do you know about angels and demons? The Word of God has much to say about these heavenly beings. In this study, you will be amazed to learn their origins, their roles, and their dealings with mankind. Join hosts George and Toni Perry as the Good Eats Small Group discusses the functions and realities of the spiritual realm in a digestible style. Learn the role of angels in YOUR life, and be made alert to, and equipped for, the spiritual war waging around you and your loved ones. Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. The Bible wasn't actually written in English. Although we believe that today's English Bibles are the inerrant word of God, there are potentially life changing truths to be uncovered by looking through the lens of the languages that the Bible was written in. It's like an archaeological dig! Take something that seems familiar, like the word word, and dig a little deeper and you can uncover some unexpected gems. You ve heard Pastors Armin and Segun refer to the specific meanings of words and maybe you were interested in learning more. Come join us in a new small group study to discover things like: % Possibly the only word in the Old Testament that has no English translation, and why does that matter? % The many words for praise and worship and how it can transform your Sunday! % The various names of God and the amazing things about His character that they reveal to us. We will also learn how to use a concordance and other study tools to uncover more exciting insights that you can use as you study! This group is open to everyone. If you have questions please feel free to contact Jeff Busch at jeffbusch@optonline.net. To sign up please visit the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or sign up online at and click on "Join a Small Group".

5 In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic, only 9 percent of professing Christians live with a biblical view of the world! Men s Friday Night Bible Study 6:30 PM Grace Café If you are a man who is looking to dig deeper into God s Word, then this is the group for you! Join us at Grace on Friday evenings for our current study as we journey through the two letters that Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church. We will discuss the meaning of these letters and their application to our daily lives. No biblical experience required to attend this study. The sessions are open to all men at Grace. Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Because of this, we are losing our bearings as a people and a nation. A personal sense of significance is lost and we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy. We begin to wonder what life's ultimate purpose really is. To counter this slide within the body of Christ, Focus on the Family has launched one of the most ambitious and powerful projects in the history of it's ministry The Truth Project. Join us as we explore intriguing topics such as: % The American Experiment % Veritology: What is truth? % Anthropology: Who is man? % Theology: Who is God? % Science: What is True? % The State: Who's Law? and much more! This study is a GREAT starting point for any man or woman who is interested in looking at life from a biblical perspective! If you have questions please feel free to contact Chuck Alles at ffi@sigmaweb.net. To sign up please visit the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or sign up online at and click on "Join a Small Group". Do you look back and think that the first church was full of spiritual perfection and maturity? Surely it was so much better way back when? Do you really believe that? In our look at Paul's two letters to the Corinthian Church you will discover that as fast as time marches forward, each generation struggles with the same issues and questions. Fortunately, as we continue to share faith in Jesus Christ, every generation has the opportunity for great change and spiritual revival! Come study with a few good men. No biblical expertise required. It's a leader led discussion! The sessions are open to all men at Grace and beyond. Choose the day that best fits your schedule and be ready to be challenged and encouraged. Contact Cameron Baker at ext. 16 or cameron@grace4families.com with any questions.

6 Friday Nights Grace, Room 100 7:00 PM: Teaching & Worship 8:00 PM: Confidential, Small Group Discussion Celebrate Recovery is a biblical and balanced program that helps us overcome our hurts, hang-ups, and habits. It is based on the actual words of Jesus rather than psychological theory. It is designed as a program to help those struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process. Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Church on the Mount, every Friday beginning at 7:00 PM Come each week for the first hour Big Meeting and stay for the one hour confidential, small group discussion led by trained leaders in separate groups for men and women. It is a safe, healing and transforming time. For more information, contact Maureen at , but feel free to just come! Sunday, December 4, 12:30 PM Grace, Room 100 Celebrate Recovery is starting its first intensive step study to help overcome destructive hurts, habits and hang-ups. The first step group will be for women only and all are welcome regardless of your struggle. The Celebrate Recovery materials and process will be applicable to all hurts, habits and hang-ups. We will be using the devotional segment to explore eating dysfunction in this step group to better understand why we all eat or don t eat for reasons other than physical hunger. As a small community of dedicated believers, we will be looking at how old hurts drive our unproductive habits, painful hang-ups and food-related behaviors. The program runs 25 weeks and will utilize 4 study books to cover all 12 steps of the program, which focuses on our relationship with Christ and experiencing true recovery. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity for spiritual growth, please join us for an information session on Sunday, December 4 at 12:30 PM in Room 100. Friday, January 20 at 7:00 PM Food Fun Fellowship Glorifying God! Hosted by Celebrate Recovery Celebrate Recovery at Grace rejoices in one year of ministry to those with hurts, habits and hang-ups being healed by Christ! Sign up in the lobby in January.

7 Come one, come all, it s up to you! We are encouraging you to come even if you are a senior citizen and beginning to explore or contemplate these issues. Let s shine the light of wisdom, knowledge and the Holy Spirit on this very important time of life. Coming in January on three consecutive Mondays at 7:00 PM we will be presenting three seminars on the topic of caring for the older people in our lives. January 16 Secrets to Success with Tough Conversations. Grace Church s own Laurie Roome will share her expertise with how to have that conversation with loved ones about getting older and the changes that must happen. January 23 Effective Communication Strategies. A speaker from the Alzheimer s Association of Greater NJ will share expert advice on how to effectively communicate with loved ones with dementia-related issues. January 30 Legal Considerations Related to Caring for the Elderly. Keith Paterson, a Christian lawyer, will present the legal issues that are important for us to consider as our loved one ages. Mark your calendars. Please sign up in the lobby beginning December 4. If you are in law enforcement, emergency health care, trained in first aid and or CPR and you want to help make Grace as safe as possible, we have a team for you. You can join our team of dedicated First Responders by contacting Tim Leonard at ext. 17 or tim@grace4families.com. This team is in place every Sunday and at most special events we have here at Grace. They are simply ready to lend a trained helping hand in the case of an emergency of any kind. There will be a training for all current and prospective First Responders on Saturday, January 21 at 8:00 AM. Please contact Tim if you would like to attend this meeting, where we will be going over our security policies and procedures. This is also a great meeting for all our Ushers, Greeters, Children and Student Ministry workers, and Guest Services people. Preparation is the key to safety, come and help us be prepared for any emergency.

8 Care Net Ministry We are looking for volunteers to help others in very practical ways. Call it Christian Hospitality or Helping One Another as believers in Christ. Frequently, the church office receives calls from people in need of practical assistance: rides to the doctors, help moving, postsurgery meals, you get the idea. These are very practical needs from people that are not able to help themselves in the moment. If you would like to be part of this helping movement, contact Pastor Cameron Baker at ext. 16 or and he will happily place you on the distribution where these types of needs are shared. You will not want to miss out on the blessing of helping others in a time of need. Here is a challenge for you: provide a "Life Box", a box of provisions for another family at Grace. The "Life Box" outlined below will create a meal and help supplement others as well. Here's what you do, either with your family or maybe with your small group. Purchase the following items: - (2) 16 oz Non-Refrigerated Canned Hams or Canned Chicken (9.00) - (2) boxes of Instant Potatoes (6.00) - (3) large cans of Mixed Vegetables (6.00) - (3) large cans of Green Beans (6.00) - (1) box of Instant Milk (8.00) - (3) Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding (3.00) - (1) 9 oz. Graham Cracker Pie Crust - (1) box Instant Oatmeal - (2) large cans of Vegetable Beef soup (8.00) - (2) pounds of Spaghetti (2.00) - (1) Large jar of Tomato Sauce (4.00) - (1) small shaker of Romano Cheese (3.00) - (1) box of Chex cereal (4.00) - (1) reusable Storage Container/with lid to hold all of your items - (OPTIONAL) $10.00 Shop Rite gift card for fresh items (Bread & Fruit) With this "Life Box" you can provide for a family of 4 for just $ That's: 2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Ham or Chicken Dinner, 1 Pasta Dinner. We will be collecting these all month and getting them to families in need. Please place your completed "Life Box" in the Grace Café. Contact Cameron Baker at ext. 16 or cameron@grace4families.com with any questions.

9 Nursing Home Ministry Have you ever had the desire to work with the elderly? If so, be prepared to share smiles, laugh, cry, hold hands, give hugs, make friends, sing and share God s Word, His comfort and His love. We meet at two locations on the first Sunday of the month: +House of the Good Shepherd in Hackettstown, 1st Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM +Mt. Arlington Senior Center, 1st Sunday of the month at 1:30 PM If interested, contact Linda Corcoran at corcoranlindajean@yahoo.com for more information about this ministry. Consider praying for others at Grace as part of your dedicated time with Christ. Nearly every day Grace Church has close to a hundred people praying for the needs of others. If you are a person of prayer and a believer in Jesus Christ, we need you on our Prayer Team. If you are interested in finding out more, please Mary Ann at maryann@grace4families.com. If you are in need of prayer, contact Mary Ann, and she will publish your request to the team. What is the Grace SWAP? % It is a place for people to connect the things that they have with people who need them. % On the SWAP board, in the Grace Café, you will find cards to fill out describing the item that you would like to GIVE away (All must be free). % It will be posted on the bulletin board in the Grace Café for others to see and write down your information. % NO items will actually be accepted here at Grace. % Once the item is gone, you simply remove your card and praise God for the chance to serve someone else's need.

10 We (Armin Sommer, Russ Redmond, Karen Schussler and Sherri Leonard) had the privilege in November to witness first-hand what God is doing in Honduras. Our hosts drove us on bumpy roads to cities and villages throughout the western part of that beautiful country. The believers we met impressed us as resilient, hard-working, and committed fellow-disciples. God at Work at Gracias Sewing Academy Resilience was especially evident in the women of Gracias Academy as they described the impact the sewing school has had on their lives. Each woman commits to attend the school daily for an entire year and to participate in daily group Bible devotionals. They will graduate in July from the Academy. The culmination of their training will be to market their work at the annual national festival, which attracts many tourists. This will provide a good test of their business ideas, so they can advance their efforts to provide sustainable income for their families. Please pray for these women; especially for Edita and Marina, who are not yet saved. Consider the following testimonials: % We are grateful. God gave me a dream he would provide a way for me to learn to sew before the school was announced. (Alicia) % I am a single mother with two children and I want to make a better future for my children. We now know how to produce something. We have a tool to defend ourselves financially. (Ada) % All my life I wanted to learn to sew, but didn't have the resources. I am grateful for this opportunity and can see my life has changed. (Lucia, who is about 50 years old). % I looked for a job in a lot of factories and could not get one. Now I have dreams and goals. (Sandra) % The dream started on the heart of our pastors. Most women don't have a job. Our vision is not just to learn but to start a new business. Thank you for praying for us. (Maira) % I am a single mother with 6 children, it is a necessity to make money for my children. I am thankful to God that, though I only went to school until 6th grade, I can learn things.

11 God at Work in Church Planting We visited several churches planted through the ministry of Victor Almendarez. Pastor Juan Mateo came to Christ through Victor s prison ministry. Victor mentored Juan who also received ministry certification through the Honduran Bible Institute (founded by Patrick and Debbie O Connor, long-time missionaries of Grace). Grace Church has committed to fully fund the salary of Pastor Juan in San Marcos for a 5-year period. God has even provided him with free programming on a local radio station to preach the gospel. Our team also traveled with Pastor Henero to the town of Ocotepeque, where he hopes to start a new church. He has already made a 15-day missionary journey there in order to make disciples. It was in Ocotepeque that we met Lucia, whose husband had abused and abandoned her. She is a strong woman who has used her wits to cleverly provide for her family through the sale of recycled materials. Though not yet a believer, she has become known in the community as a woman of ingenuity and diligent care for her children. Pray for her salvation. She has the potential to become an influential leader in that community. The next church we visited was in El Mangito ( the little mango ). A group from Grace Church traveled there four years ago to help build their little templo (church building). It is located high in the mountains on a winding and treacherous national road frequently used by drug traffickers. We were encouraged to see a strong core of faithful men that is leading the young families in that village. Vision That Makes a Difference A significant aspect of Pastor Victor Almendarez s vision is to begin, in association with each new church, a community project similar to Gracias Academy. The purpose: to raise up a church culture that supports family resiliency. The Lord is using people like Victor and his wife Virgilia to write a better story for the people of Honduras. We are glad to partner in ways that make an eternal difference. Christmas Eve Offering Because of the success of the Gracias Academy, the Christmas Eve offering will be used to create more community development endeavors in western Hounduras.

12 One program presented by our GriefShare ministry, another presented by our DivorceCare ministry. In past years, the holiday seasons may have been a time of great anticipation and excitement, but this year, the prospect of facing the holidays without your loved one may cause anxiety and dread. You are not alone. Here s what you ll do during a Surviving the Holidays event: % Experience a 40 minute video, filled with practical tips on how to survive the holidays. % Hear from others in the group who are dealing with similar issues. % Have the opportunity to share how it is affecting you (if you like) % Receive a personal Holiday Survival Guide. No sign ups necessary, just come as you are. New Session Begins February 6 Monday Evenings, 7:00 PM Room 101, Library GriefShare groups help you move toward rebuilding your life after the loss of a loved one. Each GriefShare session has three distinct elements: Expert Video Seminar Focused Support Group Discussion Workbook Based Personal Study GriefShare meets every Monday evening at 7:00 P.M. in Room 101 (Library). Questions? Contact Frank or Kathy Rizzo at New Session Begins February 6 Monday Evenings, 7:00 PM Room 105 Our DivorceCare group and resources can help you deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life after going through one of the most painful experiences you ve ever faced. If you have questions, please contact Steve and Tracy Heady at sheady521@optonline.net. You can also check out the DivorceCare website at to learn more.

13 By now, we all know that Grace is home to a thriving Stephen Ministry group. But how much do you actually know about the details of the ministry? Here s a helpful quiz to help you find out! Who is eligible to get a Stephen Minister? a. Anyone named Stephen b. Only fervent followers of Christ c. Anyone with a burden too great to bear on their own What kind of credentials do Stephen Ministers have? a. They ve completed 34 years of higher education from an accredited university b. Absolutely none, they just have a lot of time on their hands c. They ve completed 50 hours of intensive training and receive continuing education regularly What kind of problems can they help with? a. Minor medical emergencies, including tooth extractions b. Major home redesign, from pouring foundations to re-roofing your addition c. Any challenges that are weighing you down, from divorce, diagnosis, issues with children or employment, etc. How can someone get a Stephen Minister? a. Send smoke signals on a clear day b. Pray and pray until one walks up and asks if they can minister to you c. Call or the Grace office to be put in touch with a Stephen Leader How much does all of this cost? a. If you have to ask, you can t afford it b. We bill on an installment plan c. Absolutely nothing- we are here to serve you with the love of Christ If you answered c to the above questions, you re an expert! Please share what you ve learned with others, because you never know who might be struggling. If you think you would like to become a Stephen Minister, please call or the office and we will make sure you receive an information packet. Office phone number address - stephenministry@grace4families.com

14 Children s Ministries Bible Memory Challenge Six children at the 6:00 PM service are well on their way to completing the Memory Verse Challenge! We have booklets in our Children's Ministries wing that have the memory verses for your child's age group or school grade for this year. These booklets can also be downloaded at As your child memorizes each verse, he or she recites it to Tara DiGiacomo in the elementary wing, Susan McDermott in the preschool wing, or Courtney Kane at the 6:00 PM service to receive a small prize. Their name will be put in for a drawing for a large prize at the end of the year once they have memorized all the verses for their age group. The prize will be awarded at the end of the school year in June. There will be one big prize for one preschooler, one elementary student and one member of Club 56. If you have any questions, please see a Children's Ministry leader in person on Sunday or contact Janice Rodland at ext. 22 or janice@grace4families.com. Bring your best recipe of chili for a cook off judged by astounding food critics. You don t have to enter our cook off to attend, we will be doing some other really cool stuff to cool off after spicy chili (family activity). Saturday January 14 at 12:00 high noon; it s goin down! Contact Janice Rodland at ext. 22 or janice@grace4families.com for more information. Parents in our post-modern world tend to be committed to but anxious about their child-rearing responsibilities. They've tried the countless parenting books on the market, but many of these are strident, fear-based books that loving parents instinctively reject, while still searching for direction. Now Dr. Tim Kimmel, founder of Family Matters ministries, offers a refreshing new look at parenting. Rejecting rigid rules and checklists that don't work, Dr. Kimmel recommends a parenting style that mirrors God's love, reflects His forgiveness, and displaces fear as a motivator for behavior. As we embrace the grace God offers, we begin to give it, creating a solid foundation for growing morally strong and spiritually motivated children. Releasing in an affordable trade paper edition, this revolutionary book presents a whole new way to nurture a healthy family. This is just one of our books in the parenting resource center you can borrow, check it out in the preschool wing! Any questions contact Janice Rodland at janice@grace4families.com or ext. 22. Our list of resources is available at

15 Sunday Morning Worship in the Youth Room 9:45 AM-Junior High (7th & 8th Grades) 11:15 AM-Senior High (9th-12th Grades) Join us in the Youth Room, located directly below the sanctuary, for interactive games, food and relevant Bible teaching. Our mission is to: Connect students with God, each other, non-christians and to the right ministry. Wednesday Night Small Groups 7:00 PM Last year, we averaged 81 middle and high school students at our Wednesday night small groups. These students were able to build lasting friendships and grow deeper in their faith through large group worship time and age and gender specific small groups. Please pick up a registration form in the lobby or in the Youth Room. If you have any questions, please contact Reuben Scheeringa at reuben@grace4families.com or ext. 20. Fill the Plane! This summer, our youth will have the opportunity to minister to Youth Pastor Reuben Scheeringa s home state of Alaska with Group Workcamps. Help our students prepare for their trip to Alaska by sponsoring a child to fly to Alaska. The cost for this plane trip is $800 per student. You can sponsor either a full ticket or half a ticket. Sponsorships will be available on Sunday, December 11 & 18 in the lobby. Youth Winter Retreat January Students 7th-12th Grades Cost: $145 per student This winter retreat has been a favorite of students the last few years. We will be heading to Word of Life located in upstate New York for some fun in the snow, as well as life-changing teachings. Check out the facility on their website We will leave church at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 27 and return around 6:00 PM on Sunday, January 29. All forms and money needs to be turned in by Tuesday, January 3. Spaces are limited; sign up in the Youth Room! Questions? Contact Sarah DiMeo at ext.12 or sarah@grace4families.com.

16 Mom Connection 2nd Monday of the month, December 12 8:00 PM 10:00 PM Youth Room Once a month, a group of ladies get together, just to connect. We share stories, advice, parenting fails, mom guilt, celebrations, goals and little victories. We don't judge, we don't attack, we don't criticize, we listen, pray and care about one another. We call this group Mom Connection. We are married moms, single moms, stay at home moms and full time job moms, we are infant moms and grandmoms, one kid moms and 4 kids moms. We share one thing in common: we are moms who need other moms! Think this sounds amazing? Join us December 12th for Christmas dinner at 8:00 PM. Please bring a small "favorite thing" gift to exchange. No childcare provided. RSVP by December 4 for the dinner to Debi Riska at djriska79@hotmail.com or sign up in the lobby. When is Help Enabling? New Curriculum! Joy Fellowship Women s Recovery Group Thursday Evenings September thru June 7:00-8:30 PM Grace Café Living a Life of Balance: A Women of Faith Study Have you lost yourself by being responsible for someone else who isn t being responsible for themselves? Do you feel compelled to rescue others? In a Christ-centered program called Conquering Codependency, we will explore what it means to have healthy relationships and take care of ourselves in the process. If you can identify with these behaviors and want to learn more, we encourage you to join us. No childcare provided. Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Nancy Sullivan at nancys4415@gmail.com. MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the Month December 7 & 21 9:30 11:30 AM Youth Room MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) exists to encourage and equip every mother of a preschooler (ages newborn to kindergarten) to realize her potential as a woman and mother in the name of Jesus Christ. Meetings are the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 9:30-11:30 AM, in the Youth Room, from September through May. For more information about our program, pick up a brochure or a registration form at Guest Services, or contact our steering team at gracemopsleadership@gmail.com or ext. 12. Saturday, December 10 8:30 10:30 AM Room 100 We hear from the experts about balanced lifestyles-that we need proper rest, nutrition and exercise. We also need spiritual balance. Only God can guide us toward the balance we desperately desire. It starts with our hearts. No childcare provided. Cost for book: $7 Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Joyce Miller at vmiller@hotmail.com. Golden Threads Second Wednesday of Every Month December 14 10:00 AM 12:00 PM, Grace Café Join us as we partner with Patients Into People, a ministry that provides custom hospital gowns for patients battling cancer. Can you sew? Cut fabric? Iron? If you answered yes to any of those, or if the answer is no but you d like to learn, sign up and join us. We are open to women of all ages and skill levels. It s a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ and have some fun together. No childcare provided. Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Nancy Murphy at quilterfriend@gmail.com or

17 Entrusted, A Study of 2 Timothy Author: Beth Moore Tuesday Mornings, beginning January 3 (six sessions) 10:00 AM 12:00 PM, Room 100 CHILDCARE AVAILABLE God has a plan for you. He has entrusted you with the gospel message and has gifted you to carry it to the furthest reaches of this planet. He s calling you to be His mighty servant, willing to face whatever difficulty you encounter as you carry out His mission. Cost for book: $15 Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Jill McLean at jill@grace4families.com or ext. 15. Do Over Author: Ben Mandrell 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, beginning January 5 (six sessions) 7:00 8:30 PM, Room 100 Who wouldn't like a chance to do over an embarrassing outburst, a rash decision, or a bad choice? Frankly, we could use a do over of our entire lives! This study from the Book of Romans shows you that, while you can't make the change, Jesus can do over your life. No childcare provided. Cost for book: $10 Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Dawn Roberts at dawnmich23@gmail.com. Hosea Unfailing Love Changes Everything Author: Jennifer Rothschild Tuesday Evenings, beginning January 10 (eight sessions) 6:30 8:30 PM, Room 100 Discover the God who cherishes you! When we wander away from God, we lose sight of who we are. Come explore Hosea and Gomer's story. And in the end, walk away knowing you are a loved, accepted and complete woman of God. No childcare provided. Cost for book: $10 Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Carrie Kraus at ckraus01@optonline.net. Uninvited Author: Lysa TerKeurst Tuesday Evenings, beginning January 3 6:30 8:30 PM, Grace Café In this video-based Bible study bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst helps women to explore the roots of rejection; the lies we believe as a result; and the truth about who God is, who we are, and what it looks like to live loved. No childcare provided. Cost for book, $10 Sign up at the Small Groups kiosk in the lobby or online at and click on Join a Small Group. Questions? Contact Nancy Ramella at nancyramella@gmail.com.

18 Winter is upon us and if you are one of those people who simply can t get enough of the white stuff, the Adult Winter Weekend is just for you. Or If you want the chance to get away for a weekend in beautiful upstate New York at a great Christian Retreat Center (Camp-of-the-Woods, Speculator, NY) with an intimate group of your friends and church family, it is for you as well! The cost of the weekend is $210 per person, based on double occupancy. We are pleased to announce that Barry McGuire will be leading us in worship this year and Armin Sommer will be providing a time of teaching and reflection. This weekend is a great time to get away with your spouse and/or friends. There will be some significant time of spiritual reflection as well as a good amount of free time that you can spend enjoying the amenities of Camp-of-the-Woods. Sign up for the weekend beginning in December (GREAT Christmas gift!!) and you must pay the full amount in order to reserve your spot. Spots are limited! Contact Tim Leonard if you have questions at ext. 17 or tim@grace4families.com. Welcome in the New Year with Prayer, Praise & Worship! Join us at Grace Church on the Mount on Saturday, December 31 for our New Year s Eve Worship Service. We will be worshipping our Lord and King in the last minutes of 2016, right into the first few minutes of We will have a worship band leading us in song and an inspiring message to launch us into the New Year. The night will also include a time of prayer where we entrust ourselves and our plans for the new year into God s hands. The service will start at 10:30 PM and finish at 12:15 AM, shortly after the countdown into the New Year. The worship service is open to everyone and light snacks will be provided during the evening. Childcare will not be provided. If you plan on being a part of this evening, (and we encourage you to), please indicate so on the New Year s Eve Worship Service EVENT PAGE we have created on FACEBOOK or sign up at the Guest Services desk on Sunday mornings.

19 Grace Family News Births CONGRATULATIONS TO: Jodi and Matthew Hawkswell on the birth of their son, Jace Matthew, on October 18. Jill and Steve Lengen on the birth of their son, Matthew Edward, on November 14. PATRIOT PRAYERS PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE SERVING IN FAR OFF PLACES: Adlay Moriyon, Sam Lamanna, Jessica Haskin, Alexander Castellanos, Christopher Castellanos, Callie Halls, Scott Zetterstrom, Heather Kevlahan, Mike Masotti, Tyler Rodland, Carlos Maldonado, Joey Scarmack, Tommy Hickey and Paul Andras SYMPATHIES OUR CONDOLENCES TO: The Felo family on the passing of Lou Felo on November 8. The Sommer family on the passing of Nancy s mother, Gunnie (Gunhilde) Shults, on November 5. Memorial service will be held in the new year. Has your contact information changed? Home address, , phone number? If so, please contact Mary Ann at or maryann@grace4families.com. To add your news to the above lists, please contact Sarah DiMeo at sarah@grace4families.com. May - October 2016 General Fund $1,000, $900, $800, $941, $811, $911, $700, $600, $500, $400, $300, $200, $100, $- General Income Expenses Budget

20 Nov 28 Single Young Adults, 6:30 P.M. (Room 100) DivorceCare, 7:00 P.M. (Room 105) GriefShare, 7:00 P.M. (Room 101, Library) Nov 29 Women s Bible Study, Bethlehem, 10:00 A.M. (Room 100) Women s Bible Study, 12 Women, 6:30 P.M. (Café) Nov 30 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 7:00 A.M. (Rockaway Panera) Evening Prayer Group, 7:00 P.M. (Church Office) Foundations, 7:00 P.M. (Church Office) Youth Small Groups, 7:00 P.M. Dec 1 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 6:15 A.M. (Café) Once Upon a Storytime, 10:00 A.M. (Preschool Wing) Women s Recovery Group, Enabling, 7:00 P.M. (Café) Dec 2 Men s Bible Study, 6:30 P.M. (Café) Celebrate Recovery, 7:00 P.M. (Room 100) 1825, 7:00 P.M. (Youth Room) Dec 3 Relief Bus, 6:30 A.M. Women s Ministry Field Trip, Uptown Art, 11:00 A.M. (Denville) Bowling Outing, Rockaway Lanes, 2:00 P.M. (Rockaway) Dec 4 Nursing Home Ministry, 1:00 P.M. (House of the Good Shepherd) Nursing Home Ministry, 1:30 P.M. (Mt. Arlington Sr. Center) Dec 5 Single Young Adults, 6:30 P.M. (Youth Room) DivorceCare, 7:00 P.M. (Room 105) GriefShare, Surviving the Holidays, 7:00 P.M. (Room 100) Dec 16 Men s Bible Study, 6:30 P.M. (Café) Celebrate Recovery, 7:00 P.M. (Room 100) 1825, 7:00 P.M. (Youth Room) Dec 18 Child Dedication Class, 9:45 A.M. (Church Office) Dec 19 Single Young Adults, 6:30 P.M. (Room 100) GriefShare, 7:00 P.M. (Room 101, Library) Dec 21 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 7:00 A.M. (Rockaway Panera) MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), 9:30 A.M. (Youth Room) Evening Prayer Group, 7:00 P.M. (Church Office) Foundations, 7:00 P.M. (Church Office) Youth Small Groups, 7:00 P.M. Dec 22 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 6:15 A.M. (Café) Once Upon a Storytime, 10:00 A.M. (Preschool Wing) Women s Recovery Group, Enabling, 7:00 P.M. (Café) Dec 23 Men s Bible Study, 6:30 P.M. (Café) Celebrate Recovery, 7:00 P.M. (Room 100) Dec 24 Christmas Eve Services, 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00 P.M. Dec 25 Christmas Day Service, 11:15 A.M. Dec Church Office Closed Dec 31 New Year s Celebration, 10:30 P.M. Dec 6 Women s Bible Study, Bethlehem, 10:00 A.M. (Room 100) Women s Bible Study, 12 Women, 6:30 P.M. (Café) Dec 7 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 7:00 A.M. (Rockaway Panera) MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), 9:30 A.M. (Youth Room) Foundations, 7:00 P.M. (Room 101/Library) Vertical (Monthly Communion Service), 7:00 P.M. Dec 8 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 6:15 A.M. (Café) Once Upon a Storytime, 10:00 A.M. (Preschool Wing) Women s Recovery Group, Enabling, 7:00 P.M. (Café) Dec 9 Men s Bible Study, 6:30 P.M. (Café) Celebrate Recovery, 7:00 P.M. (Room 100) Dec 10 Joy Fellowship, 8:30 A.M. (Room 100) Dec 12 Single Young Adults, 6:30 P.M. (Room 100) DivorceCare, Surviving the Holidays, 7:00 P.M. (Room 105) GriefShare, 7:00 P.M. (Room 101, Library) Mom Connection, 8:00 P.M. (Youth Room) Dec 14 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 7:00 A.M. (Rockaway Panera) Golden Threads, 10:00 A.M. (Grace Café) Evening Prayer Group, 7:00 P.M. (Church Office) Foundations, 7:00 P.M. (Church Office) Youth Small Groups, 7:00 P.M. Dec 15 Men s Weekly Walk-In Bible Study, 6:15 A.M. (Café) Once Upon a Storytime, 10:00 A.M. (Preschool Wing) Women s Recovery Group, Enabling, 7:00 P.M. (Café)