Grace Notes The mission of Grace Episcopal Church is: To know Jesus Christ, proclaim His Word, and live His teachings. Volume 2018 No. 12 December 2018 Published monthly in the interest of Grace Episcopal Church, Ponca City, Ok. Message from the Wardens The month of November has seemed to fly by very quickly. Hopefully we are all able to take it a little slower in the month of December in the celebration of our Lord's birth. We continue to be blessed at Grace Church and are thankful for all that we have. We would like to take this time to thank all in the parish for continuing to step forward in advancing the work at Grace Church. From the administrative staff and volunteers in the office to the leaders and members of each ministry in the the parish everything continues to move smoothly. For that we are eternally grateful. Thank you for turning in your pledge cards during our Stewardship drive. They are being tallied and recorded so that we can set our budget for the coming year. It is not too late to turn in your pledge card though. Please contact Jerry Orr or call Treva in the office and we can get you a pledge card. Also the time and talent cards have been gathered. Please be responsive when we call on you for an opportunity to serve. The Search Committee is in full process in the search for our new rector. Canon Bill Carroll has met with the Committee and begun considering candidates. Thank you to all Committee members for this important work. We are so excited about the youth ministry led by Riley Wells. They have had exciting meetings and are involved in outreach to our parish members. God has great plans for the youth and hopefully the group will continue to grow in the Spirit. continued....
...continued We had so many great moments of outreach and witnessing to greater Ponca City. Recently we hosted Fades and Braids which offered free haircuts and spiritual encouragement to area youth. We had the annual coat and gloves give away. We continue to support Friendship Feast. The Outreach Committee delivered monetary sponsorship to many local charities. All of this is possible through the generosity of our parish members in your pledges. Thank you! We look forward to Father Bill and Carole being with us this Christmas season. We will have both the 4:00 and 11:00pm services this year. Look forward to seeing all of you all through Advent and most especially at Christmas Eve. Your friends in Christ. Your Wardens 2 Please join us for Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 9 5:00 PM Followed by a family pot luck supper & fellowship. Lessons and Carols is a traditional service consisting of seven scripture readings about the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus, interspersed with uplifting music. It is appropriate for the season of Advent, when Christians everywhere are preparing for the birth of our Lord and Savior.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT GRACE THE ADULT FORUM (Sundays at 9:00 a.m.) Dec. 2 TBA... Father Bill Martin/Deacon Steve Mallory Dec. 9 TBA......Father Bill Martin Dec. 16 TBA... Father Bill Martin/Deacon Steve Mallory Dec. 23 TBA...Deacon Steve Mallory Dec. 30 TBA......Deacon Steve Mallory WEEKDAY BIBLE STUDY The Tuesday morning Bible Study began a new study in November on the 23 rd Psalm. If you are interested in joining us please contact the office or me at 918-557-0553. Thank you. ~Jane Simmons CHILDREN S SUNDAY SCHOOL Youth Sunday School continues under the direction of Judy Branch and Marsha Orr. Youth Sunday School is held in the Education Building as follows: *Youth Pre-K through 1st grade will be from 9:30-10:00 downstairs in the Education Building. *All other youth will be from 9:00-9:30 upstairs in the Education Building. We are looking forward to exploring Christ's journey and the connections we can make together. Hope to see you all each Sunday. If you have items for Grace Notes, please email them to: TL@standingbearpark.com. The deadline for Grace Notes is the 15 th of each month. 3
YOUTH ACTIVITIES AT GRACE It has been an incredible month for EYC! We have had so much fun growing together in faith. December is going to be filled with lots of Christmas cheer! We are caroling on the 14th followed by a Christmas party lock-in. We will also be joining the caroling on the 23rd! I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone in the congregation for being so supportive of our youth group! Many Blessings, Riley Wells 4 It was a special treat on Sunday, November 18 th to have Joshua Branch play the prelude on clarinet. Good job Joshua!
HYMN OF THE MONTH Hymn 67, Psalm 42, is rich in biblical references to the ministries of Isaiah and St. John the Baptist. The German original of this hymn was written as a meditation on Isaiah 40:1-8. The author was Johann Olearius. The translation in our hymnal is a modification of that by Catherine Winkworth which first appeared in The Chorale Book for England in 1863. The melody is from 1551. Comfort, comfort ye my people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God; comfort those who sit in darkness mourning 'neath their sorrows' load. Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over. Hark, the voice of one that crieth in the desert far and near, calling us to new repentance since the kingdom now is here. Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way; let the valleys rise to meet him and the hills bow down to greet him Make ye straight what long was crooked, make the rougher places plain; let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign. For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad; and all flesh shall see the token that the word is never broken. WE RE SINGIN AND RINGIN! On Sunday, December 23, from 3:30-5:30 PM, Grace Church will do our annual Christmas caroling. We will gather in the Parish Hall and caravan to our destinations. If you have participated in the past, you will remember that we accompany ourselves with our handchimes. It is very simple- no music reading required! Please come and bring your children and/or grandchildren for this event. Seeing the young ones always brings a smile to our listeners faces. Our EYC will participate too. If you or someone you know would like us to come by, please call the Parish Office at 765-7609 with that information. 5
FOOD FAIR with Grace Episcopal Church Women THANK YOU SO MUCH Lots of help... TAKEN FROM THE PONCA CITY NEWS Lots of shoppers... Lots of food... 6
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE There s still time! The Stewardship Canvass Committee is pleased to announce that we are making progress toward our goal for underwriting God s work at Grace Church in 2019. If you have not yet returned a pledge card, your special consideration now will make the difference as we solidify our budget for the coming year. Please join us in the celebration of God s gifts in our lives by bringing your pledge card to church next Sunday or mailing it today. If you need a pledge card, one is available at church services, the church office, or by contacting Jerry Orr, Stewardship Chairman, at 763-7038. Faithfully, The Grace Church Stewardship Canvass Committee When Making Your Financial Plans, Please Remember the EVERLASTING GRACE LEGACY FUND It s a sure way of securing the ministry of Grace Church for the future. EVANGELISM & CHURCH GROWTH John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The evangelism committee is beginning a new ministry. For any who need to have light bulbs in their homes replaced, but need help doing so, we are here to help. Please call the church office or Darelyn Harris at 580 716-7920 for requests and bulb donations. The Evangelism Committee will be having a committee meeting on Wednesday, December 5th at noon. All welcome! ~Darelyn Harris 7
8 DAUGHTERS OF THE KING PERIPATETIC PARISHIONERS Thanks for sharing your travels with us. Thanks for always coming home. Remember to take your bulletins to the Parish Office. (and write your name on the bulletin) Ladies and Gentlemen, our little food bank is still running and doing well. Thanks and keep up the good work! Your Daughters of the King continue to pray for everyone on our prayer list. Thanks to Treva who has done a great job passing your prayer requests to us. This month we will be helping with the angels on the tree. Don't forget to check out the tree in the Parish Hall. I hope this will play in your head all month: Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o'er the plains And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains. May the Lord God fill your hearts with joy this month and always. GIFT SHOP NEWS For His Sake, Cheryl Happ A new item has been added this season. Stop by the counter and see the NEW note cards printed from an actual photo of the church s red doors all decked out with their Christmas wreaths and surrounded with a light coating of snow on the ground. These are blank note cards so you can add any message you wish. Price is $5 for a packet of 5 or you can buy any number you might need for $1 each. They have proven to be very popular so don t wait too long to make your purchase. We will be putting out a display of Advent items and items suggested for Christmas gifts. You might drop a little hint that we could pass on for you. The Gift Shop continues to be open on Sundays and Wednesdays after church services; but you may also call Joan or Jane for a special appointment if needed. A couple of the cookbooks are usually available in the church office for special emergencies - just in case. ~ Joan Dick (762-2514) or Jane Worstell (762-3467)
ECW NEWS I am pleased to announce that proceeds from the Book/Collectible Sale totaled almost $1400.00! A big thank you to Steve and Betty Scott who generously donated beautiful collectibles, making our Silent Auction a big success! Thanks also to the men and women of our parish who donated items, spent many hours preparing for the sale and working more long hours after the sale. I especially want to thank Riley Wells who contacted the youth of our church who moved hundreds of books and transported them to a new place on Union. We appreciate the dedication of the women of our church in preparation for the annual Food Fair. These ladies spent many hours, many days preparing casseroles in the church kitchen. They creatively wrapped pies, cakes, cookies and candy in an attractive way and designed special casserole labels. Thank you to all parishioners who spent time cooking and baking at home in preparation for this big event. Total proceeds from this year's food fair totaled $4,051.50. Please keep in mind our wonderful cookbook "A Taste of Grace," when planning your Christmas gift list. The recipes are outstanding ---just try them! As always, I need parishioners to sign up to bring treats after the church service. There are a few openings in December. Thanks for your help! Please be thinking of dates in January when you can bring either store-bought or homemade food for us to enjoy after church. ~Marcia Davis CHRISTMAS FLOWERS Special Christmas Flowers contribution envelopes can be found in this issue of Grace Notes and in the pews on Sunday for those who would like to give a poinsettia (or more than one) as a memorial or in thanksgiving. A suggested minimum donation of $15 per poinsettia is requested; however, any donation will be gratefully accepted. Please make checks payable to: St. Martha s Altar Guild. Put the envelope in the alms basin on Sunday or drop it off at the parish office by December 15 th. 9
Dec. 2 Dec. 9 DECEMBER ALTAR FLOWERS The altar flowers will be given to the glory of God by: Marsha & Jerry Orr in thanksgiving for the birthday of their granddaughter Emma Grace; and by Pam & Steve Belzer in thanksgiving for their wedding anniversary. Emmi Lockard in loving memory of Eric Lockard. Dec. 16 Janell & Michael Hutchinson in thanksgiving for their wedding anniversary; and by Sarah G. Wilton in loving memory of her parents, Patricia and Richard L. Gay. Dec. 23 Judy Wakefield Sanfilippo in thanksgiving for the joyous Christmas season. Dec. 24 Christmas - Poinsettias donated by the congregation and columbarium flowers given by M & M Flowers. Dec. 30 Joan Dick in loving memory of her husband, Warren; and by Family & Friends in loving memory of Warren Dick. 10 DECEMBER SANCTUARY LAMP CANDLE The sanctuary lamp candle will be given to the glory of God by: Dec. 2 Dec. 9 Keri, Chris, Emma & Sawyer Bartley in loving memory of Benjamin Bartley.. Glenn Cassity in thanksgiving for the birthday of Linda Cassity. Dec. 16 Fr. Douglas Johnson in thanksgiving for the anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood. Dec. 23 T.L & Zac in thanksgiving for the blessings of this year. Dec. 30 Judy Wakefield Sanfilippo in thanksgiving for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Available dates for the altar flowers are as follows: December 9 & 23 also January 27, 2019 There are no available dates for the sanctuary lamp. To request an available date for 2018 for the flowers, or to make any changes in the current schedule, please contact Cynthia Winterrowd at: cynthia.winterrowd@gmail.com or 580-761-0415.
Dates to Remember DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES 1 Emma Bartley 19 David & Jacque O Grady 8 Patrick Winterrowd 20 Steve & Pam Belzer v 17 David O Grady 21 Jerry & Marsha Orr 20 Polly Feezell 23 Dwayne & Laura Hines 21 Skylar Swords 24 Judy McGuire 30 Suzy Bivin 31 Lynda Clark Merry Christmas Please join us for Lessons & Carols December 9 th at 5:00 p.m. and Caroling December 23 rd at 3:30 p.m. CASONO Concert December 4 th at 7:00 p.m. Public welcome If your name is missing from the birthday or anniversary list, please call us at 765-7609 so we can update our records. We do not want to leave anyone out! 11