EARLIER WORSHIP TIME  CONTINUES IN 2012

Grace continues to worship at 10:30 a.m. with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Grace tried this scheme for our summer worship schedule in 2011, and many people enjoyed having extra Sunday afternoon time for Sabbath rest and renewal. Spread the word - and invite a friend or neighbor to join you!

GRACE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP SUPPER - JAN. 22

Grace will have its annual congregational leadership supper on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. The annual Council Retreat will be at 3:00 p.m. The supper will be catered by Hawg Heaven. Please sign up in the narthex by Wednesday, Jan. 18 or call the office if you plan to attend the meal. This is for all current/outgoing council members, group officers, staff, ministry coordinators, Sunday School teachers and staff, choir members, etc. - and families.

SCHOOL OF RELIGION TUESDAYS IN JANUARY

Heartland School of Religion holds its annual School of Religion on Tuesdays, Jan. 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Grace. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow in faith! Registration forms are in the narthex. Cost is $10 for all four evenings - Youth FREE! Courses are:

Last Supper/Lord's Supper - Dr. Charles Sigel
Ears to Hear: Preaching as Ministry of the Whole Congregation - Rev. Dr. Shaunna Hannan
Comparative Religions - Dr. Mike Beggs
Youth Bible Study - AIM Stephanie Stoudemire
Social Security Today - Mr. Jim Caulder

          JANUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH:  Gospel of John

 "BOOK CLUB" GATHERING SET FOR JAN. 29 

"Open Those Bibles!" is the theme for this year's Sunday School ministry, and it is also a goal for every member.  As part of our "Open Those Bibles" emphasis, Grace members are reading a book of the Bible each month. January Book of the Month is the Gospel of John. Don't forget to bring your Bible to Sunday School and Worship each week. Since people often gather in Book Clubs to discuss a best-selling book they have chosen to read, we care having gatherings to discuss the books we read from  the best-selling work of all time, the Holy Bible. Our next  gathering or "Book Club" meeting is planned for Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Deborah and Phil Ruff. We will enjoy fellowship and informal chat about Isaiah, the December Book of the Month as well as our January Book.

SCHOOL BIBLE CLASS BEGINS JAN. 17 AT MCMS

The School-time Bible Class for 8th graders kicks off its eighth year at Mid-Carolina Middle School Jan. 17 for the third nine weeks. The non-denominational class teraches basic Bible content and offers opportunity for prayer with faith-life reflection. The class must be funded and staffed entirely by volunteers and is conducted off-campus at Mt. Tabor Lutheran in Little Mountain. Grace is joining Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist and AMC congregations to make thise happen in our community. The School-time Bible Class is sponsored by the Mid-Carolina Ministerial Association and area congregations with the Rev. Eric Fink serving as program coordinator. Lay bus riders and financial support are needed. Contact Pastor Eric for more information.

INFO NEEDED FOR YEARBOOK, DIRECTORY

As the church office begins preparations for the 2012 Yearbook and People of Grace, the following information should be turned into the church office by January 15: 

** Address and phone number updates and e-mail addresses;
** Time and Talent Sheets to help us make ministry assignments for ushers, tabulators, etc. for 2012 (forms are in the newsletter, bulletin and church narthex);
** Year-end Reports for all ministry teams; committees; men’s, women’s and youth  groups; Leisure Hour; Congregational Council; and other church organizations; and
** Treasurers’ Year-end Financial Reports from all church fund treasurers and group treasurers.

Remember:  you can e-mail your address/phone numbers, e-mail addresses, year-end reports and treasurer's year-end reports to the church office at gracelutheran2@att.net!

Also, please sign up on the 2012 Eternal Candle and Altar Flower Chart posted on the narthex board by Jan. 15 so that this information can be included in the Yearbook.

FOOD MINISTRY DELIVERS JOY TO CHILDREN

Food ministry backpacks continued to be delivered to five needy children in mid-September with much joy when the children get their weekend food. Many children completely rely on school meals - and sadly have no source for good food on weekends. Each Friday, a bag of food is delivered to the school so that the child can take it home in a bookbag. We need FOOD DONORS! Make it a regular part of your weekly shopping to include some items for a hungry child. Anything from the following list will help and can be dropped off in the narthex on Sunday or any day of the week:

• small boxes/bowls of nutritional cereal;
• fruit cups/pudding cups (high priority need)
• nutritional snack bars/breakfast bars
• baked potato chops/sun chips
• small boxes of raisins/dried fruit
• vegetable cups/applesauce
• non-perishable single-serve kids meals (high priority need)
• packaged crackers/sleeves of crackers/graham crackers
• juice boxes/pouches - apple, orange or other 100% juice (high priority need)
• small peanut butter
• beef stew or canned meats (pop tops) (high priority need)
• non-refrigerated milk cartons
• sunflower seeds/trail mix with fruit
• fresh fruits are also acceptable to be used that week.

"SERVANTS OF GOD" PATIO STILL IN PROGRESS

Johnny Merck continues to work on tthe engraving for the named bricks for our "Servants of God" patio. Piedmont Tech graciously allowed Johnny to use its laser engraving equipment; however, the machine has been down for six months, which has delayed the project. Hopefully, the machine will soon be repaired, and engraving will be completed by year's end. Donations are still being accepted for bricks with the goal of having the names of all Grace members (past and present), friends, and associates on these bricks in order to represent the "great cloud of witnesses" who have served the Kingdom here in this place throughout the decades. Single named bricks may be ordered for a minimum donation of $25 each. Minimum donation per brick for five or more bricks ordered at the same time is $20 each. In addition to a brick for your current family, you may also wish to honor your ancestors or adopt a brick for one of Grace's charter families, or a past Sunday School teacher or pastor. The donor's name will not be included on the brick, but will be recorded in a special donor's book for the patio. Order forms are available in the church narthex or call the church office.