GraceNotes - Nov. 25, 2018
11/21/2018 Topics: What's New , GraceNotes
Find out what's happening next at Grace with this week's GraceNotes
Nov. 25, 2018 Edition
Happening at Grace
Call Update—On Sunday, Nov. 18, Grace called Rev. Brian Hackmann of Eagle River, AK, to serve as an associate pastor of outreach. Please keep him, his family, and Grace in your prayers as he deliberates both his calls.
New! Grace Members Login Feature Live on Website—After much anticipation, the Grace Members login feature is now live on the Grace Downtown website! Emails with details about the new members-only features, along with how to obtain a login, are being sent out today. An online form for requesting a login is also housed on the website, under the Connect tab. Questions, contact Amanda Schumacher at aschumacher@gracedowntown.org.
Angel Tree—After worship, head to the Parish Center and choose one of the remaining tags hanging on the Angel Tree. Each tag represents a child in foster care and their Christmas gift wish list. These children may not receive any other gifts this year, so please consider choosing a child (or two!) to buy a gift for! Add your name to the sign-up sheets on the nearby table, and bring unwrapped gifts no later than Monday, Dec. 3. You can bring gifts to the church office during the week, or give them to the Grace Center building host on Sunday mornings. Questions, contact Renee Hundley at 414-271-3006 or email rhundley@gracedowntown.org.
Poinsettias Available to Order—It is time to order poinsettias to beautify the chancel for Christmas. Please use one of the envelopes provided on the Parish Center counter and deposit it in the box. The cost is $11.50 per plant; you may choose red or white. Poinsettias purchased can be taken home after morning worship on Christmas Day. Please make checks payable to Grace. Deadline is Monday, Dec. 3.
The Point of Grace Christmas Party—Join Point of Grace Campus Ministry on Friday, Nov. 30, @ 6 p.m. for a concert celebration to kick off the Christmas and holiday season! Food and fun start at 6 p.m; Him and Her concert at 7 p.m. Him and Her are Seth and Jenna Herlich who share their passion for God's Word and music. This event is geared toward college-aged young adults, but the concert is open to everyone!
PrimeTimers Christmas Party—Join Paul Sherwood, and your fellow Grace PrimeTimers for the annual Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. in the Grace Center classroom! Contact Drew for details or to RSVP: 414-271-3006 or dcarter@gracedowntown.org.
"Be Still" - Advent By Candlelight is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1, 3:30-5:15 p.m. in the Grace Center. Hosted by Women of Grace, Grace's women-led ministry, Advent by Candlelight is a child-free worship and fellowship experience for women. Enjoy an afternoon away from the family and the daily demands of life, and instead re-connect with your sisters in Christ while reflecting on the true reason for the season. Check out gracedowntown.org/connect/advent-by-candlelight or the sign-up sheets in the Parish and Grace Center to see how you can get involved. Questions, contact ABC Coordinator Sarah Egelseer at (920)285-8775 or sarahegelseer@live.com.
St. John's on the Hillside 170th Anniversary Celebration—St. John's on the Hillside, Grace's sister WELS church in the Hillside neighborhood, invites us to join them in celebrating their 170th Anniversary next Sunday, Dec. 2 at their 10:30 a.m. worship service. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded on December 4, 1848. Professor John Brenner of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (Mequon) will preach, and a lasagna dinner pot luck, served in the Activity Center, will follow the service.
Grace in the Ward Concert—Grace's second site ministry, located in the Broadway Theatre Center (158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee), welcomes Him and Her on Sunday, Dec. 2, as part of the worship service. Him and Her are Seth and Jenna Herlich who share their passion for God's Word and music. Learn more at himandherlich.com.
Family Christmas Eve Service Rehearsal—Each year, Grace's 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Family Service brings together children and adults of all ages to present the message of God's love through Scripture readings and music. All high school and adult members are invited to join the choir for this service. Three rehearsals are scheduled: 9:30-11 a.m. on Dec. 8 and 15 in the church lower level, and Dec. 22 in the sanctuary. Please contact Kevin Becker, kbecker@gracedowntown.org, or call the church office for more information.
Advent Dinner Helpers Wanted—Advent is fast approaching, and with it, the return of Advent dinners. To help these midweek dinners go off without a hitch, we are looking for volunteers to help prep and clean before and after each meal. This year Advent dinners fall on Wednesdays, Dec. 5, 12, and 19. Dinner prep of the pre-planned meal starts at 5 p.m., with cleanup starting roughly at 6:15 p.m. If you are willing to help with any of these meals, please contact Veronica Brewer at vbrewer@gracedowntown.org, Drew Carter at dcarter@gracedowntown.org, or call the church office at 414-271-3006.
Lost and Found—The lost and found is overflowing with an abundance of coats, scarves, gloves, and random accessories. Missing something? Please check both the lost and found in the ushers room at the back of church as well as in the church office to see if we have it. All remaining items will be donated after the first of the year.
Want to spread the news about an event at Grace? Email Amanda Schumacher, Communications Coordinator, at
aschumacher@gracedowntown.org.
Happening Around the WELS
Special Donations for Panama City, FL—Can't help Panama City in person? Consider donating monetary funds to Northwestern Publishing House so hymnals and other worship resources can be donated to Amazing Grace, one of our WELS churches that suffered severe damage when Hurricane Michael hit in October. Contributions can be made in-person and over the phone Friday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1250 N. 113th Street, Milwaukee or by calling 800-662-6022.
Lutheran Chorale Concert—The Lutheran Chorale of Milwaukee, under the direction of Levi Nagel, presents its annual pre-Christmas concert program on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 2 & 4:30 p.m. at Abiding Word Lutheran Church (9420 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee). An organ prelude, presented by Lynn Kozlowski, begins 20 minutes prior to the concert. Learn more at lutheranchorale.org.
Wisconsin Lutheran College Band Concert—WLC's Concert Band presents its Winter Band Concert on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Arts and Performance Schwan Concert Hall (8815 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee). Tickets are $6; purchase tickets via wlc.edu/boxoffice or by calling 414-443-8802.
Koiné Christmas Concert—WELS worship band Koiné presents its Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. at the Waukesha Expo Center (1000 Northview Rd., Waukesha). The concert will feature favorite Christmas songs and familiar hymns.
Christmas at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary—The Seminary Chorus, a 52-voice men's choir composed of students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, presents its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3 and 7 p.m. in the campus auditorium. Traditional and contemporary anthems by the choir and hymns and carols for the audience. There are no advanced tickets sales; a free will offering is appreciated. The seminary is located 11831 N. Seminary Dr. in Mequon. Find more information on Facebook and at wls.wels.net.