Church Calendar of events
Volunteer Schedule
church officers

sp

Operation Christmas Child
     Our church filled 27 boxes which were brought to the collection site by November 15.  They should arrive by Christmas to children in over 60 countries who are suffering from natural disaster, war, poverty, illness or neglect.  Thank you for bringing joy and hope to these children this Christmas!!
 

The Mitten Tree
     All during Advent Season the Mitten Tree will be standing in the Fellowship Hall.  You may decorate it with hats, mittens, gloves and scarves for children and adults.  Please donate these by the end of December when the items will be delivered.  This year the collected items will go to Rushford Public Schools.
 

Thank you to fall teachers!!
     We would like to say think you to the following teachers for faithfully leading our Sunday School classes this fall:  Gayle Arndt, Ashley Oldham, Heather McRae, Kathy Rosendahl, Tara Scaife, Cindy Burt and Doug Rosendahl.  Also thank you to the substitute teachers:  Tammy Engstler, Cheryl Graham, Kathy Weiner, Mary Rennells, and Pam Lica.
 

Winter Quarter Teachers
(December 2 - February 24)
Nursery:  Gayle Arndt
Ages 3-5:  Ashley Oldham
Grades 1-3:  Heather McRae
Grades 4-6:  Kathy Rosendahl
Grades 7-12:  Tammy Engstler
Adults:  Loel Gorden
Parenting:  Cindy Burt
Music Leader:  Kathy Weiner
Worship Leader:  Pam Lica
 

Christmas Program
     The title of the Christmas Program is The Light of God.  Practice will be held on Saturday, December 15 from 9 - 11:00  a.m.  The Program will be presented on Sunday, December 16 at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.  After the program everyone is invited to have lunch in the fellowship hall.  Children will eat first so that they can perform some of the songs at Watkins Manor at 12:30 p.m.  They will return to the church by 12:50 p.m. where parents should wait.
     We hope that children and youth ages 3 - 18 will participate in the program.  The director and writer of the program is Tammy Engstler.  Accompanist will be Dan Barr.
 

December Craft Project for Shut-Ins
     The December craft project made by children of Grace Church will be a joyful reindeer!  Deacons will deliver the crafts to the shut-ins along with a picture of the child(ren) making their craft each month.  Thank you, families, for your help in getting these crafts back to church one or two weeks after you receive the kit.  Check out the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall to see all the people who receive these craft projects.
 

Advent Bible Study
     Pastor Jim will lead an Advent Bible Study entitled "The Mystery of the Messiah in Old Testament Prophesy " beginning Wednesday, November 28 and 6:00 p.m. Meeting dates for the Advent Bible Study with Pastor Jim on Wednesdays
at 6:00 p.m. are:  November 28, December 5, December 12 and December 19.
All are invited to attend!!
 

Please mark your calendar.
     There will be no Sunday School classes on Sunday, December 30, 2007.

Nursery Wish List
The nursery has been revived this year
inmore ways than one. Thanks to the efforts
of many volunteers, it has been painted and
redecorated, old and unsafe toys have been
removed, and new toy storage has been
installed. Best of all we have a great nursery
attendant in Ashley, with a burgeoning group
of youngsters visiting her each Sunday.  In
addition to all of this the nursery will soon
have new toys—with your help. A wish list
has been posted on the bulletin board in the
hall.  To contribute a new toy to the nursery,
sign your name by an item on the list, purchase
it from the store of your choice, and bring it to
the nursery by December 30.
 

CONCERNS
Mickey Barr's nephew, David Ninowski, passed away on
November 17,2007, after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you wish, you
may go to www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com for his obituary or to leave or
view guest comments.

CHRISTMAS PLANTS ~ It would be lovely
to have lots of Christmas seasonal flowers in the
sanctuary for Christmas. If you would like to
provide a plant and want to honor someone or
give as a memorial, let Elayne know.

CIRCLE II will meet for lunch at
Perkins on December 12th at 12:30 p.m.
This will be our last meeting
until April. If you need a ride, call
Dorothy (42-5306) or Elayne (452-0881)
or the church office (452-4608)

The PW Coordinating Team will meet
in the church office on Monday,
December 3rd at I p.m. to plan their
budget for 2008.

Thank you for your thoughts and
expressions of sympathy on the
death of my dear nephew, David.
He lived "with cancer for 4 1/2
years, exceeding expectations,
and was able to have that time
with his family and friends.
Mickey Barr

AVENT EVENT on December 3rd•• 3:00 p.m. decorate church: 5 p.m. soup & bread supper:
6:15 p.m. caroling at Lake Winona Manor.(canceled because of weather)

CHRISTMAS EVE RECEPTION, at 4:30 p.m. followed by a CANDLELIGHT SERVICE at 5:30 p.m.

BOO
Book of Order Study
W-2.0000 THE ELEMENTS OF CHRISTIAN
WORSHIP
W-2.1000 Prayer
W-2.1003 Music as Prayer: Congregational Song
Song is a response which engages the whole self in
prayer. Song unites the faithful in common prayer
wherever they gather for worship whether in church,
home, or other special place. The covenant people
have always used the gift of song to offer prayer.
Psalms were created to be sung by the faithful as their
response to God. Though they may be read
responsively or in unison, their full power comes to
expression when they are sung. In addition to psalms
the Church in the New Testament sang hymns and
spiritual songs. Through the ages and from varied
cultures, the church has developed additional musical
forms for congregational prayer. Congregations are
encouraged to use these diverse musical forms for
prayer as well as those that arise out of the musical life
of their own cultures.

Presbytery Report
Reported by Mary Lowery—your "Tuesday"
Presbytery Representative.
John Knox Presbytery was held November 13* at
First Presbyterian Church at Waukon, Iowa..
Highlights of the meeting included:
1.  Members of the Mission/Vision Task Force
read Romans 12:9-18 to us several times.
We broke up into small groups and had to
relay our thoughts as to how this passage
could help our Presbytery work more
efficiently together. The results will be
given at the next Presbytery meeting.
2.  The Presbytery Flood Relief Response Team
(Pastor Jim is a part of this) reported that
now we would be concerned with "long
term" relief. Jim told a moving story about
"Barn Boots."
3.  New church development is being planned
for Sun Prairie. The Administrative Task
Force for the proposed new church
development project at Holmen was
dissolved.
4.  The Reverend Alex Thomburg gave a
sermon based on "The Prodigal Son" during
worship.
5.  The Committee on Preparation for Ministry
had us read and comment on a fictional
candidate that was preparing to be called to a
church. The "candidate" was well prepared
and liked by her future congregation, but her
invitation for communion was not traditional.
(See Mary Lowery or Jim if you wish to read
this).  The Committee on Preparation for
Ministry's intent was for us to see that it is
not always easy approving a candidate.
6.  Presbytery approved Doug's four hour work
week.
7.  The minimum salary for Pastor's for 2008
was approved.
8.  The necrology report was given and June
Connolley's name was read.
AND, for the foodies — the lunch included a chicken
casserole, molded jello salad, roll, apple, pu,pkin or
strawberry/rhubarb pie, coffee, milk, and water.
Cheese curds and pickles were on the table.
Cinnamon rolls, coffee and juice were available for
hreakfast

When you are making out your Christmas card
list this year, please include the following:
A Recovering member of our Armed Forces
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20307-5001
If you approve of the idea, please pass it along.

MISSION AND STEWARDSHIP UPDATES
CROP WALK
Five members of the Grace Church family (Kathy and Laura Weiner, Dema Burt,
Jean Hayes and Janet Nustad) walked on September 30 for Church World Service
CROP WALK and raised $410. The grand total for the WALK was $12,836.20 - the
best year we've ever had. Winona Volunteer Services and Winona Long Term Flood
Relief Program for South East MN. will each receive Vn of the total amount.
Thank you to walkers and those who supported them.
PEACEMAKING OFFERING
The offering, taken in October, totaled $461.68. One fourth of that, $115
was given to St. Charles Borremeo Catholic Church to help those in need after their
home was destroyed by fire. We received a note from the priest with deep appreciation
for our concern and support for those in need.
Thank you to all who contributed to this special offering.

DECEMBER SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
There will be two opportunities in December to support special needs within the
Presbyterian Church (USA) and in our own local area.
CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING
The Christmas Joy offering will be received on Dec. 16.
The receipts from the Offering are distributed equally to the
Board of Pensions for assistance programs and to National
Ministries of the General Assembly Council to support
Presbyterian racial ethnic education.
Through the Board of Pensions' Financial Assistance
Programs this offering recognizes the faithfulness of current and
retired church workers by providing funds to help them through
difficult times. They offer income and housing supplements to
help retired church workers and grants to current church workers
who have financial need or an emergency. Many recipients of financial aid say the
knowledge that the church was standing with them in time of need was as important as
the assistance received.
This offering also helps provide scholarships to deserving students as well as help
with basic operating costs at PC(USA) related schools and colleges - all open to any
qualified student regardless of race. (Barber-Scotia College, Cook School for Christian
Leadership, Menaul School, Presbyterian Pan American School, Sheldon Jackson
College and Stillman College)
This offering, that has been a tradition for nearly 70 years, is one of four special
offerings designated by the General Assembly of PC(USA) to provide congregations
direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need.
who have financial need or an emergency. Many recipients of financial aid say the
knowledge that the church was standing with them in time of need was as important as
the assistance received.
This offering also helps provide scholarships to deserving students as well as help
with basic operating costs at PC(USA) related schools and colleges - all open to any
qualified student regardless of race. (Barber-Scotia College, Cook School for Christian
Leadership, Menaul School, Presbyterian Pan American School, Sheldon Jackson
College and Stillman College)
This offering, that has been a tradition for nearly 70 years, is one of four special
offerings designated by the General Assembly of PC(USA) to provide congregations
direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need.

CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING
The money received at the Christmas Eve service will be used to help a family in
need as a result of the flood in Stockton. The needs of those effected by the floods will
last for several years. We will keep them in our prayers and continue to seek ways to
helo them in anv wav oossible.