December Newsletter 2022
Grace, mercy, and peace are yours in the Babe of Bethlehem, our King of kings!
Dear Family of God at Grace,
We have reached a new church year with the beginning of Advent and the last month in the year of our Lord 2022. It is hard to believe that December is upon us. So much to do and so little time to get it all in!
Let me hit a few highlights of events happening at Grace:
Wednesday Advent services started on November 30th, at6:30 PM. Our theme is the “Hymns of Christmas.” We will have an Advent and Christmas Hymn sing 15 minutes before we start the service, so come a little early. There is a supper at 5:15PM, so come to have a good meal for the body, then food for the soul in Evening Prayer.
We will be decorating the church on Friday the 2nd at 6:00 PM. We are decorating a little early this year because we have the Naples brass coming on Sunday, the 4th. After we have completed the decorations, if you wish to bring an appetizer to share, that would be great. There will also be some wine and songs to bring joy to the heart.
Saturday, the 3rd is the Grace Lutheran Christmas Tea at 11:30 AM. The cost is $10 and there is still time to attend. Call the office (239-261-7421) and we will get you signed up before Saturday.
On Sunday the 4th, the Naples Brass is playing at 4:00 PM. This is a must see and hear concert! We have had them here for several years and they are always fantastic. It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. Don’t miss this concert.
Tuesday the 6th is the Naples Christmas Parade. We will have a float in the parade, but we need your help. We will decorate the float on Sunday the 4th after the late service. We have a Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus, but we need some shepherds, wisemen, and angels for the float. We need people to carry flags and the church sign and to walk alongside the float and wave. THE MORE THE MERRIER! We will have a signup in the Narthex this Sunday. The parade is only a few days away.
The Preschool and Sunday School Children’s Christmas Program is on Saturday the 10th, at 10:00AM. Come support our preschool and Sunday School kids as they tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
You can help decorate the Narthex and church with Christmas Poinsettia Plants. The deadline is Wednesday the 14th . The cost is $18. You can give flowers “in memory of,” “in honor of,” or “as a thank offering for.” Please contact the church office or fill out a form in the bulletin and drop it in the offering plate.
There is also a Voters’ Meeting on the 11th, between the services and we will go Christmas Caroling on the Sunday the 18th at noon.
Christmas Eve is on a Saturday this year. We have our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services on the 24th at 4:30, 7:00, and 11:00 PM. Christmas Day is Sunday; we will have one service at 9:00 AM. The following week is our New Years’ Eve Service on Saturday the 31st, at 4:00 PM and then New Years’ Day is Sunday, with two services at 8:00 and 10:30 AM.
So much going on this month. Strap in and hold on because this month will be a blur!
On a different note, we are two months removed from Hurricane Ian. Many are still suffering and hurting. Those who suffered damage and loss are still working to get their homes back to livable conditions. It is probably still two, three, four or more months away from back to normal. Hang in there! We raised $104,095.00. Thank You! Thank You! You are all so generous! The Hurricane Committee has met a few times and considered all the requests and has granted the requests. Everyone in need is going to receive help.
Let me say a big thank you to Deb and Gary Laveen and the whole Thanksgiving Day Crew that helped make the meal at Grace! We had over 100 people and the food was fantastic. Thank you to all who helped make the day so special!
I’ll close this letter with a word concerning the sign of Advent and Christmas. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Luke 2:12 says, “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” The Babe born in Bethlehem is the sign of God’s peace with and to the world. Our King Jesus will come again in majesty. He comes to us now in the mystery of Word and Sacraments. He came in history as our humble Savior King, born of the virgin and wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a feed trough. This is who we worship, Jesus our Lord of peace, Immanuel the God with us now and always!
Blessed Advent and Christmastide to you all!
In His Service,
Pastor Lingsch