November 17, 2024

Greeter(s)                    Kathy Lloyd

Welcome Center           Casey Brookes

Worship Leader            Ed Paluszka

Livestream                   Irene Philips

Sound/PowerPoint       Scott Brookes

Nursery                        Laura Behr

Toddlers                       Kelly Gallagher, Kaili Stauffer

Graceland                     Casey Brookes, Sophia Dobrovolec

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. – Desmond Tutu

THERE WILL BE A BRIEF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING following worship TODAY to vote on the Board of Christian Education’s recommendation shown below, which was unanimously accepted by the Executive Committee, to reorder our Sunday morning ministry program times beginning with the first Sunday in 2025.

Morning worship at 10:00am    Fellowship time 11:00-11:15am

Christian Education for all ages 11:15-Noon

This change would be evaluated after 18 months (June 2026).  This change means Sunday morning worship will always be at 10:00am, a consistent time throughout the year.  This recommendation was made based on the results of the September congregational survey.  The goal with this change is to provide a greater opportunity for participation in Sunday morning Christian Education as we live into our value of “Holy Curiosity.” 

COATS FOR MOMS: The Board of Missions has received a request from Oneida Ortiz, a social worker at Temple Hospital, for new or gently worn coats of all sizes for moms in the prenatal department where she works.  The coats will be collected for another week.  Please drop coats off in the narthex or give a donation designated as “coats for moms”, and the BOM will purchase the coats.  Contact BOM members with any questions.

STAFF VACATIONS:

Pastor David – November 21-28 (Pastor Brady will preach November 24.)

Trish Simpson – November 25-26.

THANKSGIVING FOOD COLLECTION: During the worship service on Sunday, November 24 you will have the opportunity to give thanks by bringing a food donation for the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard to support the families in our local area.  Please refer to the Community Cupboard list on the next page for items needed at this time.

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE to order your Christmas poinsettia in honor of or in memory of a loved one.  Please look for an order form at the Welcome Center and turn it in to the office with payment before you leave today.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOXES ARE DUE IN TODAY! Samaritan’s Purse asks for a $10 donation for shipping.  Please make your check out to “Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell” and place it inside your shoebox on top of your gift items.  Use a sturdy rubber band to secure your shoebox.  DO NOT TAPE!  THE BOXES ARE OPENED TO REMOVE YOUR CHECK.

CHURCH DECORATING AND POTLUCK: The Deacons invite our church community to help decorate for the Advent and Christmas season after our worship service on December 1.  Help us make the church colorful and festive by hanging greens and decorating our tree.  Kids will help decorate Graceland.  We’ll have a soup (crock)potluck after worship with church decorating.  Please use the link to indicate adults and children attending. https://tinyurl.com/GBCBBHaningofthegreensandlunch

If you can contribute to the pot-luck luncheon, please sign up to bring a crock pot of soup, salad, or bread to share.  Thank you!

THE WINTER “SECRET PLACE” (December, January, February) is available at the Welcome Center.  Place your $.50 donation in the attached box.

NOTE OF THANKS: A heartfelt thank you to those who sent cards to my mom, Betty Wardell, for her 100th birthday.  A special thank you to the Care Team who visited on her special day with cards and gifts.  She enjoys your visits and feels very cared for by our church.  I am so thankful to my church family for all you do for her. – Nancy Burns 

THE WISSAHICKON FAITH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION will hold a Thanksgiving Service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale on Tuesday, November 26 at 7:30 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 1000 W. Main Street Lansdale, PA 19446.  All are welcome!

BONHOEFFER MOVIE: A new movie about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer will be showing in theaters beginning November 20.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Protestant Theologian and a leading spokesperson for the Confessing Church, the center of German Protestant Resistance to the Nazi regime.  His involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution.  If you are interested in attending this movie Thanksgiving weekend (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), day and time TBD, please express your interest by emailing Pastor David at pastordavid@gbcbb.org. The movie is rated PG-13. If we can get a group of 10 or 20, tickets are $10.  

A RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE will be held at Grace on Monday, November 25, 10am-3pm.  Call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell” to schedule your appointment.

COMMUNITY CUPBOARD DONATIONS:  Drop off at 150 N. Main St., Ambler (Tues, Thurs, and Fri, 9am-2pm) or at church during office hours.  Donations requested as of November 14: coffee (instant & K-cups), juice boxes, meal sides (e.g. Knorr, Rice-a-Roni), applesauce, bread crumbs, graham crackers, ketchup, peaches (canned), pears (canned), pineapple (canned), white potatoes (canned), aluminum foil, body lotion, body wash, shampoo.  No bulk or extra-large size items, please.

THIS WEEK AT GRACE BAPTIST – All activities are in person unless noted.

Sunday, November 17

9:30am – Sunday School, Choir

10:45am – Worship

12pm – Special Congregational Meeting

12:15pm – Staff Meeting

1:30pm – Myungsung worship (Room B)

Tuesday, November 19

7pm – Youth Group

7:30pm – Presence (zoom)

Wednesday, November 20

11am – Midweek Bible Study (zoom, in person)

6-8pm – Girl Scout troop meeting (Graceland)

Thursday, November 21

6pm – Trustees (in person and zoom)

Sunday, November 24

9:30am – Sunday School, Choir

10:45am – Worship (Graceland 2.0)

1:30pm – Myungsung Worship (Room B)