December 7, 2025
The Second Sunday of Advent

Click below to access bulletins, Livestream and Zoom links, or to make an offering

This Sunday

Wear a Christmas sweater to church and leave your shoes in the Narthex to be filled by St. Nicholas.

If you are new to Grace, you are invited to the Newcomers lunch. Rev. Eric Mason and other parish leaders will be there to answer questions and welcome you to our community. If you missed any of the former Newcomer gatherings and would like to attend, please come.

• You do not need to bring anything. 
• Childcare will be provided, if needed — please let Liz know.
• RSVPs are very helpful
• We hope you can make this meal!

Please RSVP to Liz Shaw. 

Sunday, December 7th

The Conversation for Creation Care will meet midway through the coffee hour. Please join us in listening and sharing with each other, as we consider the issue of sacred resistance. How can we, as Christians, make a positive impact in a world that seems negative and out of line with Jesus’ teachings?

Tuesday, December 9th, 6:00-8:15 p.m. 
and Tuesday, December 16th, 6:00-8:15 p.m.

Please join us this Advent season for a soup dinner followed by a contemplative program of music, poetry, and candlelight. All are welcome. Please invite friends, family, and especially anyone who might be lonely this holiday season. Evenings end with optional candlelit labyrinth walks.

During this season, we remember and celebrate loved ones with the gift of flowers and greens, and a special dedication in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins.

To contribute to the Advent & Christmas Flower Fund and list names in the bulletin:

Fill out a printed form located in the narthex.

Make your check payable to Grace Church, with “Seasonal flowers” in the memo line.

Return the form and check to the Grace office.

— OR —

Click on the button below to submit names and make your gift online.

Deadline:
5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17th.

If you signed up to donate a $25 gift card and have not yet put it in the basket by the little Christmas tree on the round table in the narthex, please do so by this Sunday, December 7th.  

Thank you! This small act of kindness will make a big difference in someone’s life.

Sunday, December 7, 6:30-8 p.m.

at Island Center Hall 8395 Fletcher Bay Rd NE, Bainbridge Island

A relaxed space for parents to connect, share stories, and explore meaningful topics together.
Currently watching Work of the People’s Sacred Disruption series.

Second Monday of every month, 7–9 p.m.

We will discuss these videos:

12/8 — THE WAY IS THE PROCESS

1/12 — REINTERPRET, RECONFIGURE, AND RETRANSLATE

2/9 — DISCOVERING THE DIVINE WITHIN

3/16 — NURTURING OUR GRACED UNIQUENESS

At the Cockroft Home
in Poulsbo

Contact: Kim Cockroft for the address — gracefamilies@gracehere.org.

Thursday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m.

for LGBTQIA+ high schoolers and allies

Craft: TBD — something sparkly and seasonal!

Little Island Crafts, 124 Madrone Ln N, Bainbridge Island

More info: youth@gracehere.org

February 6-8, 2026

Students in grades 6–12 are invited to hit the slopes with us at Mt. Baker! Ski, snowboard, hang out with friends, and make memories. 

Registration is full, but you can sign up for the wait list.

We will gather at the home of Proctor and Deborah Schenk at 6:30 on Friday, December 12th. Proctor and Deborah will provide a festive main dish of Miso Chicken. Please sign up to bring an appetizer, side dish, dessert, or beverage. A donation to the Phinney Fund is always welcome.

Please click below and sign up by Sunday, December 7th. If you have questions or want to sign up by phone or email, contact Eric Matthews at eric@ericEmatthews.com or 206.718.2254.

Grace Outreach/Faith in Action will be collecting new and gently worn hats, vests, sweaters, socks, jackets, gloves, and tarps of any size (waterproof, including vinyl shower curtains) during December and January for those in need in our community.

Please place donations in the baskets in the narthex beside the name tag kiosk beginning this Sunday, December 7th. 

Thank you!

Coffee & a Psalm
Mondays from 10:00–11:00 a.m.

No Coffee and a Psalm on Dec. 28 or January 5

The Wednesday Gathering
Wednesdays from 10:00–11:30 a.m.

No Wednesday Gathering on December 24th or 31st

Knitting Into the Mystery
Third Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. 

Meditation/Centering Prayer
Thursdays from 5:00–6:15 p.m.

No Meditation/Centering Prayer on Christmas or New Year's Day

Middle School Classroom Open
First Sundays during the 9:30 a.m. service

Queer Craft Nights
Third Thursdays from 6:30-8 p.m. at little island crafts

Music Circle Rehearsal
Thursdays from 7:00–8:30 p.m.

Mom’s Morning Retreat
First and Third Thursdays from 9:30–11:00 a.m

Conversations to Care for Creation
First Sundays in the sanctuary during coffee hour

3rd Saturday Grace Grounds Party
Third Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.–noon

Discover a Tale Well-Told

Join us for a week-long, half-day retreat with Joanne Epply-Schmidt.

February 2-6, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 noon each day

O, the difference between memorizing a story
and giving voice to it,
between acting out a story and embodying it,
between reciting a story and truly telling it!

Find your voice in this oral tradition and learn how you can breathe life into a story with confidence, ease, wit, and wonder.

Rev. Joanne has delighted children, youth, and adults with storytelling, preaching, and ministry for over twenty-five years in the eastern United States and Canada. As a member of “Storytelling Arts of New Jersey,” she worked for ten years as a Storyteller and Teaching Artist in the Juvenile Justice system and Young Adult residential programs in New Jersey.

Before retirement, she served as Associate Rector of Trinity Church Princeton for six years.

The annual benefit concert featuring Stephanie Reese and friends will be held on December 19 at 7 p.m. This special evening supports Feed2Succeed, helping provide meals and education for children in the Philippines.

We’re excited to welcome back Bishop Charles Lyles, joined by his daughter international soul singer Dorrey Lyles, Matt Gervais from The Head and the Heart, and of course, Stephanie Reese and more!

The show is free, with a suggested $20 donation. Click below to reserve your seat or make a donation. To reserve a free seat, use code Stizzr at checkout.

Those wishing to volunteer, perform, or become an advertising sponsor may contact Stephanie at (206) 604-1604. Bishop Lyles has shared music for those interested in joining the gospel chorus to learn ahead! Text Stephanie to participate!

Although SNAP payments have resumed, our ministry partners are asking us to help replenish their shelves for the upcoming holidays. 

Most needed items

canned meat (tuna, spam,chicken) • jam and jelly • canned chili, stews, soup • diapers-all sizes* • baby wipes*

Bring donations to Grace (basket in Narthex) during weekday office hours (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.), or on Sundays.

Drop off at Helpline House Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

901 Hildebrand Lane, Bainbridge Island

Fishline Helps Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

19705 Viking Way, Poulsbo

*Fishline only

Suquamish Elementary School Holiday Shoppe

Suquamish Elementary School is running a Holiday Shoppe, December 8-10, where students can “shop” at the school for up to three family members at no cost. For the next two weeks, we are collecting donated gifts (such as new or gently used mugs/household items, books, puzzles, games, toys, and crafts (no clothing, used stuffed animals, or furniture)). We are also collecting gift wrapping supplies (gift bags, gift tags, tissue paper). We could use volunteers to sort donations, set up the shop, and help wrap gifts for students during the week of Dec. 8. Please contact Renee Ziemann to find out more or to volunteer. Thank you!

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