Celebrating HOLY ADVENT & christmas AT GRACE CHURCH
KEEPING A HOLY ADVENT & CHRISTMAS AT GRACE CHURCH A Celtic Prayer for Advent: Open our eyes, O God; to the coming of your light; lift the burden of darkness From our lives. Open our souls, O God, To the warmth of your coming; melt the harshness that keeps us from you and from each other. Cherish our hearts, O God, oppressed by the winters that push against us; assure us of your coming and your call to new life. Amen. The word advent comes from the Latin word coming. This first season of the Church year prepares us to celebrate the first coming of Jesus at Christmas. We have become particularly busy in our secular lives as we prepare for Christmas with parties, shopping, baking special foods for the season. Advent reminds us that we need to spiritually prepare for the holy or sacred meaning of the season, the gift of Jesus. Grace Church offers a number of activities to help us prepare for the coming of Jesus into our lives. Please join us for one or more of these events as we put the spirit of the season back into our preparations! For more information, please contact the Church Office. 1
FELLOWSHIP EVENTS Sunday, December 1, 2013 10:45 a.m. Potluck & Jesse Tree Ornament Making Come to a fun, family party after church. There will be a sign-up for food and after lunch we will make ornaments for the Jesse Tree. There will be patterns made by the high school class and lots of decorating materials. After they are made we will tell the story of each and decorate the tree. After Christmas everyone will be able to take their own ornaments home. Please sign-up in the parish hall and we can start a new tradition at Grace for an advent activity. Sunday, December 22, 2013 6:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling We will go out to sing Christmas Carols to people in the community. Bring a flashlight! We return to the Parish Hall for cookies & hot cocoa when we re done! 2
MUSIC Haddonfield Center and School for the Performing Arts-An Evening of Readings and Carols Saturday, December 7-7:00 p.m. A wine and cheese reception follows the show in the Performance Hall. Tickets are $15. Join us as we herald the holiday season with the Grace Choirs in a musical and meditative service of Christmas carols and texts. The music comes from the medieval to the modern and is performed by all ages from children to adults. The program is sure to have something for everyone. HMHS Madrigal Christmas Dessert Theater, Friday- December 13-7:00 p.m. and, Saturday, December 14-2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. (Tickets required). The Madrigal singers will be at Grace Church again for their annual dessert theater in the Grace Performance Hall. Featuring the best voices from Haddonfield High School, this is a reenactment of the Renaissance Boar s Head meal. Ticket must be obtained from the high school in advance. All shows sell out.mark you calendars now! Dessert is served! Tickets are available through HMHS at 429-3960 Christmas with the Thirteen-Grace Church-Saturday, December 21-7:00 p.m. Tickets: $25 Come hear South Jersey s only professional choral ensemble, The Thirteen, in its second season presenting a delightful holiday-themed program of Christmas standards and choral classics alike. Tickets may be purchased at the door, in the Church office or by going to: www.gracehaddon.org. For more information on any of these events, please call 856-429- 0007 or email office@gracehaddon.org. 3
ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN Sunday, December 1, 2013 4-6 p.m. Grace Kids -Happy Birthday Jesus: Grace Kids (grades K through 5) will be meeting for a Birthday Party for Jesus. Anyone in the Parish who would like to participate is welcome to come celebrate the TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON. We'll have cake, games and a Christmas craft. We re asking each child to bring canned fruits and/or vegetables for St. Paul s in Camden. We'll also have pizza for dinner. There will also be model trains running thanks to several parishioners. 4
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES In addition to Sunday School and God Talk on Monday evenings, we have these adult offerings noted below: ADVENT SERIES with Fr. Pat-Wednesday Evenings, December 4, 11 & 18, 2013, 7:00-8:30 p.m., and Thursday afternoons, December 5, 12, & 19, 10:30 am.: Fr. Pat will lead a program, A Thrill of Hope The Christmas Story in Word & Art. We will view a DVD and discuss Biblical passages on the Advent and Christmas season. December will focus on: A Visit; The Nativity; and, the Shepherds. (Meet in the Library) ADVENT SERIES with Deacon Carmen Sunday mornings December 1, 8 & 15, 2013 10:45 a.m. Week one Dec 8th - Happy New Year! The rhythm and importance of time. Week two Dec 15th - Advent Symbolism and "the waiting and the longing" will be discussed Week three Dec 22nd - The Christmas Story will be revealed in the light of middle eastern context 5
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES The act of giving gifts is a vital piece of the Christian celebration of Christmas. God gave us the gift of hope, peace, and life in the person of Jesus. It has become the custom of Christians throughout the world to imitate this generosity by giving gifts to those in need. Here are opportunities to give this year at Grace Church. Check the Collection Corner in the Parish Hall: The Mitten Tree-donations of hats, scarves, gloves, new underwear, sleepwear and gently worn coats, sweaters, boots for needy children at the Sumner School in Camden. Food Drive-donations of canned & boxed food are being accepted for St. Paul s Food Basket and the Food Bank of South Jersey. In Lieu of Christmas Cards-monetary donations to Grace Church instead of mailing Christmas cards to parishioners with proceeds going to Episcopal Relief & Development Fund. Toys for Kids Alley Café-New toys or Gift Cards are being collected for the children who participate in the Kids Alley Ministry. See the Education bulletin board for details. Kid s Alley Café Lunches-December 7, 9:00 a.m. make 140 bag lunches. Christmas Turkeys for St. Paul s-on December 19 you can drop off your turkey. We are also accepting canned goods. These can be dropped off any time in the bin outside of the office door or in the basket in the back of the Church. 6
SPECIAL SERVICES CHRISTINGLE, FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS, PARISH HOUSE EUCHARIST Sunday, December 1, 2013 9:30 a.m.: Come join us for worship and celebration with a visit by St. Nicholas! All children, family and guests are welcomed to join us. We will be making Christingles. Christingle means Christ s Light and it is a symbol of the Christian faith. The custom of giving out lighted candles began in Germany in 1747 but it wasn't introduced to the Anglican Church in England until 1968. Christingles are made up of different parts, each one being there to remind us of meaning of Christmas. The orange represents the world. The candle reminds Christians of Jesus who they believe to be the light of the world. The red ribbon goes all round the 'world' and being the colour of blood, reminds Christians that Jesus died. The four cocktail sticks could have either of two meanings; the four seasons or the four corners of the world. The sweets (or sometimes dried fruit) remind Christians of God's gifts to the world including kindness and love. Cake and ice cream will be offered for December birthdays following the service. 7
BLUE CHRISTMAS-Friday, December 20, 7 p.m. For many people, the coming Christmas season is one of mixed feelings, often those of sadness. Each year members of our parish are experiencing their first Christmas without one of their loved ones. The service is held on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, the night with the most darkness. It is designed to provide comfort and support for those who have lost family members or friends during the Christmas season. Members are invited to come and join us for this special service. 8
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 4:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 24 CHRISTMAS PAGEANT WITH HOLY COMMUNION The children reenact the Christmas story with readers telling the story and the congregation singing Christmas carols. Standing room only! Come early for a seat. 7:00 P.M. FESTIVE HOLY COMMUNION A quieter service with music and Holy Communion. The service allows people to miss the crowds at 4 p.m. but attend church earlier in the evening. 10:30 P.M. CAROL SING The Grace Choir prepares you for the late night service with traditional and contemporary carols. 11:00 P.M. FESTIVE HOLY COMMUNION The late night service replete with candles, music and Holy Communion. This is the traditional midnight service Anglicans have enjoyed on Christmas Eve. Well attended, we encourage you to come for the musical offering at 10:30 p.m. to ensure a good seat! 9
CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST Sunday, December 25 10:00 A.M., FESTIVE HOLY COMMUNION Celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with the Holy Communion service. Music and full service provided. Often lighter in attendance than the Christmas Eve services, none the less it is a truly spiritual worship service. 10
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GRACE CHURCH IN HADDONFIELD 19 Kings Highway East Haddonfield, New Jersey 08033 (856) 429-0007 E-mail: office@gracehaddon.org Website: www: gracehaddon.org 12