ISAIAH 9:1-7 Pastor Gerald Stigall Sunday December 10, 2017 2nd Sunday of Advent www.gracefree.org 755 73rd Avenue North East Fridley, MN 55432 Phone: 763-784-7199
T h i s W e e k A t G r a c e Sunday December 10 2nd Sunday of Advent End of Term 1 9:15 am Nursery (0 to 3 yrs), Bible Hour 10:30 am Worship Service; Nursery (0-3yrs), Wee Worship (Age 3 - Kindergarten) 3:00 pm Shepherds and Kings Dramatic Christmas Musical featuring Grace Chorale & Orchestra with the GEFC Drama Troupe 4:00 pm Bible Quiz Practice Monday December 11 7:00 pm Calvin Christian High School s concert Gloria! Sing Gloria Tuesday December 12 6:00 am fe2 Men s Group 9:30 am Staff Meeting Wednesday December 13 1:00 pm Hilltoppers Small Group 5:15 pm Kids Choir 5:30 pm Fellowship Dinner 6:30 pm Awana, Youth Group, Adult Bible Studies, GriefShare 8:00 pm Orchestra Rehearsal Thursday December 14 6:00 am Women s Bible Study 11:00 am Birthday Brunch Bunch at Northtown IHOP 6:30 pm Chorale Rehearsal Friday December 15 8:15 am Bread Ministry Saturday December 16 7:30 am Friday Night Fight Event Planning Meeting 8:00 am Men s Basketball 8:00 am Men s Fellowship Breakfast at Golden Cor ral in Coon Rapids 9:00 am Youth Cookie Bake 5:00 pm Ashirvad Children s Home Fund-Raiser Sunday December 17 9:15 am Kids Christmas Pageant 10:30 am Worship Service; Nursery (0-3yrs), Wee Worship (Age 3-Kindergarten) 4:00 pm Bible Quiz Practice Monday December 18 7:00 pm Adult Volleyball Christmas - The Season of Hope!! Important Note: To respect our time of worship together, please turn off all electronic equipment (cell phones, pagers, etc.) * Hearing devices for the hearing impaired can be found at the sound booth. * A Study Guide helping you to process today s message is included in today s worship bulletin. * To listen to the service online or to get a copy of the sermon study guide go to: http://www.gracefree.org/sermons-and-study-guides.html ATTENDANCE AND FINANCIAL UPDATE 12/03/17 Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Received Difference General Fund Giving $ 12,679 $ 18,888 + $ 6,209 General Fund Giving YTD $ 621,271 $ 625,489 + $ 4,218 Faith Promise Giving $ 1,887 $ 2,613 + $ 726 Faith Promise YTD $ 92,463 $ 93,198 + $ 735 Sunday Attendance: December 3, 2017 Worship Service 274
Church Family: P r a y e r F o c u s v Pray for the following who have health concerns and/or are especially in need of prayer: Duane Derksen and Elmer Jahn. vpray for Meredith Schurr who is now at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice, 9350 Noble Parkway N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55443. Missions: vfaith Promise Update: 41 people have promised $73,013 - an average of $150 per month. If another 30 individuals or families promised an average of $95 per month, we will reach our 2018 Goal of $107,500. vadopt a Missionary for a year - We have 9 selected so far, about one-third of the way toward our goal. Our goal is to foster stronger connections between individuals and missionaries for mutual prayer and encouragement. vjason and Kristyna S. are asking for prayer for the missing luggage for a work team. The two-week plan is to dig two wells and essential equipment for the project is on that luggage. vsteve and Merrilee T. are thankful for the use of the pastoral training curriculum by a friend who works with Asian immigrants on another continent. Pray for wisdom as they finalize their development plan for next year. vgary and Marilyn R. ask us to pray for open hearts as the true meaning of Christmas and Jesus is shared in several international student events. Pray for the participants who register for Marilyn s next class of Building Bridges with English. vtim D. Praise for the 10th anniversary of ProMETA. Pray for God s direction for potential new ministry partnerships; and for development of a discipleship certificate program. Pray for the vision to increase outreach to Hispanic people throughout Minnesota. vjoel and Angela are thankful for being able to combine medical visits for their son with their trips to work on their visa updates. Pray for God s protection against spiritual warfare for all believers in their extended community. vrick and Denise K. are meeting with international student advisors from two universities. Pray for open doors. Pray for acceptance of a proposed article by the Christianity Today magazine. vjon P. and Laura will be married in the Chicago area on January 6 with a Watertown, MN reception on January 20. They will be with us at Grace on January 28. Pray for the salvation of a business man and a teen girl and friends who are attending Tokyo Multicultural Church. Mission Focus: Steve and Jane W. praise the Lord for His provision of Bibles and New Testaments in multiple languages for a mid-december outreach in Montreal. Also praise for a new collaborator for Steve to make his Fish The Bible training more flexible. Now is a good time to pray for next summer s teams for the English Character Camps. This has been an excellent outreach for churches. We could consider providing an entire team or a few individuals could join another team.
December 10, 2017 ANNOUNCEMENTS & MORE! Welcome to Grace! U p c o m i n g E v e n t s December 19 6:00 am fe2 Men s Group 9:30 am Staff Meeting 10:00 am Prayer for the Persecuted Church 6:30 pm Elder Board Meeting December 20 1:00 pm Hilltoppers Small Group 5:15 pm Kids Choir 5:30 pm Fellowship Dinner 6:30 pm Awana, Youth Group, Adult Bible Studies, GriefShare 8:00 pm Orchestra Rehearsal December 21 6:00 am Women s Bible Study 6:30 pm Chorale Rehearsal December 22 8:15 am Bread Ministry December 23 8:00 am Men s Basketball December 24 9:15 am Kids Christmas Pageant 10:30 am Worship Service; Nursery (0-3yrs), Wee Worship (Age 3 - Kindergarten) 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Candle Light Service December 25 Merry Christmas Office closed due to holiday Gloria! Sing Gloria! Calvin Christian High School will perform their Christmas Celebration of Music Monday, December 11th Fellowship time: 6:30 to 6:50 pm (and during intermission) Concert: 7:00 pm Page 1
SHARE YOUR HOLIDAY WITH A COLLEGE STUDENT Invite a Northwestern college student to spend Christmas with your family. This would include picking the student up, feeding them, and returning them to Northwestern after the festivities. Please contact Pastor David (312-970-1179) for more information Fellowship Meal 12/13 Chicken Stacki-Uppi Rice & Toppings Fruit Dessert Bars Serving Today: Bible Hour Nursery: Sharon Swanson, Jackie Den Hartog Wors hip Nursery: Teia Klimek, Lyn Smith, Samantha Jacobson Wee Worship: Sarah Stein, Melissa Keane, Lexi Hubel IT S A GIRL!! Congratulations to Graig & Maria Kveen on the birth of their baby girl, Isabella Kristine, on November 26th. Isabella weighed 7 lbs, 9.7 oz. Mother and baby are doing well. Grace Family, Thank you to our wonderful family for your comforting words, prayers and many cards received during the sadness of the loss of my brother Rich. Doug & Marilyn Gronert Grace Family, A heartfelt thank you for your expressions of sympathy during the recent loss of my father. Your prayers, cards, emails, phone calls and encouraging words were very meaningful during this time and will long be remembered. Sylvia Heitzman December 17th, 9:15 am Invite your family, friends and neighbors for this fun Christmas event. Grace kids will share the Christmas story with songs, skits and more. IF YOU HAVE ANY RECEIPTS THAT NEED TO BE REIMBURSED FROM THE CHURCH GENERAL FUND, PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY ARE TURNED IN TO THE OFFICE PRIOR TO DECEMBER 15, 2017. Page 2
O u r s t a f f w e l c o m e s y o u t o G r a c e! Dr. Gerald Stigall Senior Pastor gstigall@gracefree.org Scot Hintermeyer Director of Administration and the Arts shintermeyer@gracefree.org David Preston Director of Youth & Young Adults dpreston@gracefree.org Tim Beyer Director of Children s & Parenting Ministries tbeyer@gracefree.org Guests, you re invited to our Welcome Center (located in the Commons) following the service today to visit with a member of our Connections Team and to receive information about our church. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Weekly Ministry Opportunities Sundays (Sept. - June) 9:15 am Bible Hour & Alpha 10:30 am Worship Service Wednesdays (Sept.-May) 6:30 pm Student/Adult Ministries 8:00 pm Orchestra Small Groups and service opportunities abound. Call the church office for details, 763-784-7199.