§         The deadline for Christmas Family donations (gifts and money) is due by next Tuesday, Dec. 14^th. So please try to drop them off when attending services this coming Sunday or bring them by the office Monday or Tuesday morning. It looks as if the gift items are pretty well covered with the exception of pots and pans for family “E” (BTW, it is Wii games not Nintendo games for the 14 yr old boy in family “E”), but we have always had monetary donations that we use to purchase additional gift cards for food and gas that are given to the Women’s Resource Center for those in need and so far we have had no monetary donations. So please consider making donations early for this month’s mission to help our Christmas Families and others at the Women’s Resource Center. Thank you.  

§         The Sunday school class will be meeting this Sunday, December 12, 9:45 am to practice the children's program for Sunday Dec. 19th Service at 11 am. Anyone who can help, please contact Margaret Sproule.

§         Volunteers will be needed for tomorrow, Dec 10^th from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Elf Shelf to help with those choosing gifts. If you can help, please contact Diana Jordan at 639-0809.

§         The Clothing Bank will need 4 volunteers tomorrow, Dec. 10 from 10:00 am – noon. If you can help, please contact Mary Johnston 320-7018 (cell) or 639-5810 (home). They will also need 4 volunteers for the whole month of January on Thurs from 10-Noon and Sat 10-Noon starting Jan 6^th. Again, call Mary if you can volunteer, or sign up on the sheet in the Parish Hall.

§         Grace Episcopal Church received a MGD grant towards the feeding program in Belize. This is a matching grant for $500. So far we have raised $175 towards that goal and hope to raise the remaining $325 before the end of the year. If just 13 people donate $25/each, we can reach that goal.

§         The tree carving fund is moving right along but the work has been slow moving due to the cold. An anonymous donor has offered to match any new donation up to $1000 towards this project and that amount is now at $625.

§         Hank Johnson has been compiling information and taking pictures for our new directory. It is just about ready to print, so if you have not had your picture taken, please submit one to the office to be included in the directory.

§         Mark Schafer has been working on our website. Please go to www.graceradford.org and check out the changes (you might just see your picture there). Trained members of the congregation will be able to add information to the website to keep those near and far informed on what is going on at Grace. We look forward to Mark putting on the final touches soon and this becoming a viable tool to let others know about Grace Episcopal Church and what it means to be an Episcopalian.

§         Visitors Needed: Each month members of the Grace Caring Mission make a single visit to our sick or homebound parishioners who are either at home or in the hospital. The team for the month decides whether they want to visit together or divide the list and visit separately. Usually there are 2-4 people to be visited and can be easily done in a morning or afternoon. Presently we need one more volunteer for the months of August and December. Anyone who is willing to be a visitor for either of those months, please contact the church office 693-3494 or Ann Walker 639-9266.

§         The Dec/Jan newsletter is printed. Look for your copy in the mail soon!