Announcements for December 25

This Week at GraceEvents and ministry opportunities this week at Grace

LIFEgroups — Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun evenings (meet in homes around the area)

Elevate — Cancelled this week (7th-12th grade youth)

Elevate Postal Service: Thanks to all those who helped support the youth by allowing them to deliver your Christmas cards. A good time was had by all and many cards were delivered…and at a much better rate than the USPS! Feel free to stop in on a Wednesday night and observe what goes on here as Matt and his youth staff minister to the youth of Greenville and beyond.

Bell Ringing: Thank you to all that braved the rain and cold (or at least watched it from inside the foyer of Kroger) to help raise funds for Darke County charitable organizations. Because of your willingness to serve the community, we were able to play host to the kettle for 3 days!

Baptism: If you are interested in declaring your salvation publicly through obedience in baptism, we have scheduled a baptism during our January 15th service. If you would like to be baptized, please contact the office @ 547.0065 to schedule an interview with a pastor/elder. (If you would like to be baptized, but January 23rd is not a good date for you, please let us know as well.)

Women’s Winter Gathering: Grace Women’s ministry invites the women of Grace to join them on Saturday, January 21st at 9:30 am for a morning of food and fellowship. They ask that you sign up (so they can plan better) and bring your favorite breakfast food to share. (signup is available on the narthex table).

Christmas Gift Ideas: Okay, so you like to procrastinate…you’re about out of time! Why not consider gifting those left on your list a ticket to next year’s True Woman Conference (women’s conference in Indianapolis on 9/20-22/2012) or Together for the Gospel (men’s conference in Louisville, KY on 4/10-4/12/2012)? Grace has reserved hotel rooms to accommodate up to 32 men for T4G and has also pre-purchased 25 tickets to True Woman 2012. If you would like to get one of the pre-purchased tickets to True Woman at the early bird rate, contact Margaret Yost @ 937.335.9108. To get a spot reserved in our block of rooms at T4G, contact Shaun King @ 937.459.5755. (rooms and tickets are on a first come, first serve basis)

Know someone that was alone over Christmas? The holidays can be a hard time. For a lot of us, the gifts are opened, the boxes are at the curb and the house seems quieter without the noise off anticipation. There are those among us that spend every day of the holiday season with this feeling…some because they can’t get out, and others because they just don’t want to. If you know of someone in this position, would you join us in committing to reach out to them? A few minutes of encouragement can go a lot farther than you know!

Castine Food Bank Items for November: Canned Chicken or broth of any type (place donated items in the bin labeled ‘Feed the Poor’ in the narthex)

Current Financial Snapshot: Average Weekly giving thru 12/18: $7517

Average Weekly need for 2011: $7232

Beyond GracePartnering with local churches, individuals and ministry organizations in the proclamation of the Gospel

Calvary Grace (Dayton): Be in prayer for Tyrone Curtis as he leads the flock at Calvary Grace of Dayton. Pray that they are faithfully training up and sending out workers that are committed to the Word of God and affecting the communities to the fame of the Gospel of Christ. Pray for Tyrone as he leads, that he would do so with a patience and wisdom that can only come for the Lord.

The Happy Church (Breathitt County, KY): Pray for Mike Tabor as he feeds, leads and protects his flock in Breathitt county, KY. Being located in one of the poorest counties regions in the US has its challenges, and the Lord has proven faithful to provide for them in many unique and providential ways. Pray that they are continually leaning on the Gospel and sharing Christ’s example as they strive to be patient with the challenges that poverty can bring to light.