[Subject to change based on CDC and State guidelines]

• 6pm Christmas Eve Service
  

December 5, 2021

Dear Congregation Members

Update on Church Finances.

Our Income for the month of November was $2,931.00 and our expenses were $3,886.74 for a loss in income of $955.53. I did not transfer any money from the Grant this month, as our checking account was up last month. Our Grant currently has $1,441.45 in it. Our weekly giving is not consistent, so, we want to at least break even. The Craft Fair this month will help.

The council decided that we would have at least 1 lay service a month. This month we will not have church on the 26^th. Even when we have a lay service, we still need to pay our bills and not having music or a Pastor on those Sundays helps.

If you have any ideas which will help, please let one of the council members know. We have improved in our giving, but are still in a critical point to keep our church up and running.

Thank you for everything you do to help Gift of Grace.

I have been the Treasurer for the last 6 years and it is time someone else stepped up and took the position. I will not run again and I will not take the position, even if someone does not step up. In the words of the song “Open The Eyes of My Heart”, I am asking you to open the eyes of your heart and take on this positon.

In God’s Name, we trust.

Bob Ely

Treasurer.

As we approach the close of 2021 and get ready to enter 2022, it is the perfect time to reflect on all that we have been able to accomplish with God's guidance and presence in our lives.

Pledging is an important Christian spiritual practice that enables us to grow intentionally in faith and generosity in every place of our lives. It is a commitment to make a financial gift to be used to continue the Lord's ministry through our church, and pledging is a response to God's call and abundance in our own lives. It is also a statement of thanksgiving, and continued faith in the promise that God will continue to provide and bless us as his good and faithful stewards.

God has a plan for everyone and everything. That includes you, and it includes Gift of Grace. None of us can fully know God’s plan—the best we can do is pray and listen for clarity and direction. I hope you will all take a moment (more of course if needed) over the next few weeks, to pray for God's guidance and reassurance that He will continue to provide for Gift of Grace, all of those in our congregation, our community, our nation and the world. Ask Him to guide us, so that we may know the role He needs us to fill within in His church and the community, and to help us to give lovingly and happily as stewards of the gifts He has given us.

Once you have had time to contemplate and pray, please consider filling out and returning the linked pledge document and committing to give what you are able. Although this is not required in any way, it is useful as your council begins planning and setting the budget for the upcoming year. Our little church has done great things, and none of them would have been possible without your donations of money, time and talent, or without God's continued guidance, and blessings.

It is also time for our annual food drive to benefit those that partake of the services offered by the local food bank.  We are collecting food and monetary donations through December 24th.  The theme is of course "White Christmas".  While any donations of any non-perishable food item will be greatly appreciated, just to keep things fun, we are asking for items that have white packaging, are themselves white, or have white in their name.  Examples include: White Rice, flour, sugar, salt, couscous, top ramen, any pasta, Alfredo sauce in the jar, Lima beans, white albacore canned tuna, or anything in a white label.  Again, any donations of non-perishables will be accepted, but if you can help us have a little festive fun with this event it would be appreciated!

Please contact to Verl-Lee Ely at 775-575-2933 or Sunni Leggate 775-835-3951, to have a prayer added to the Prayer Chain, or to provide an update about a person already on the list. You can also contact Verl-Lee or Sunni if you would like to join the prayer chain committee. This list will be updated monthly, and if a prayer you have submitted needs to remain a little longer, please let us know.


Please pray for healing and comfort for:

• Steve Carr
• John Handrich
• Damian Wilson
• Sandy Bell
• Velma Thornburgh
• Mavis and Don Burgess
• Rick Jones
• Jeanie Borden
• Charlene Ross
• Mavis Jensen
• Ralph and Mary Chaney
• Billy Simmons
• Judy Crawford and her daughter
• Matty Monday
• Lloyd Dool
• Jeff Edwards
• Pastor Mike Patterson
• Lenora
• Gwen Krause
• Elizabeth McCarthy
• Bruce Person
• Patti Fischer
• Barbara Jones
• Julie Leaves
• The Family and Friends of Dave Currier
• Virginia Krause
• Friends and family of Paula
• Gerri Wernette
• Brian
• Joby Kness
• Martha Judson
  
• Gary Smith
  
• Sunni Leggate
• Sonny Simmons