December 21, 2025
The Fourth Sunday of Advent

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

Join us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Christmas Eve

4:00 PM – Family Service

Bring the whole crew! Busy bags for kids, Christingles, and a message that keeps both little ones and grandparents engaged. And yes — we really are committed to keeping it to one hour.

9:00 PM – Contemplative Service

A quieter, more reflective service with a traditional homily. Christingles will still be available for children who attend.

Christmas Day

9:30 AM

Simple, quiet, and brief. No coffee hour—just worship.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Please note: There will be no nursery care for these services.

Grace is looking for a few volunteers to help with our two Christmas Eve services.

If you can serve as greeter, usher, or parking attendant at either the 4:00 or 9:00 p.m. service, we’d love to have you.

Thanks for helping make Christmas Eve at Grace Church welcoming for all!

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

No Coffee and a Psalm on Dec. 29 or January 5

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

No Wednesday Gathering on December 24 or 31

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

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

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:

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.

Last Sunday’s Advent pageant, The Whole World Waits, was truly a sweet gift to our community. Children, storytelling, and holy anticipation came together beautifully.  Thank you to our children and families who helped bring the story to life, and a special thanks to our three teen directors, Livia Paar, Maggie Carson, and Frankie Rohan. If you missed it—or want to enjoy it again—write to Kim Cockroft for a link to the recording.* 

*Due to privacy and safety concerns around our children

In 2026, “Resettlement With Grace” will join with World Relief to provide services to individuals just released from the ICE Detention Center in Tacoma.

Volunteers will:

• Greet the released detainee at the Welcome Center RV.

• Offer respite, snacks, a beverage, a backpack of personal items, and clothing.

• Assist with travel plans, ticket purchase, and ticket printing.

• Provide transportation to the airport, bus station, or a host home.

Requirements:

• Complete application, background, and driving record check by mid-January.

• Complete a self-paced online course and two in-person training sessions by early February.

• 5-6 team members will serve on the 4th Thursday of each month, from 2-7:00 p.m., beginning February 26th.

Contact: Rev. Scott Deasy at jscottdeasy@gmail.com or (928) 606-2098.

Visit the World Relief website to learn more.

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. 

Thank you!

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.

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.

Saturday, January 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Go through your closet and bring any gently used clothing that you no longer wear to the clothing exchange in Walker Hall. You can take home other gently used clothing at no expense. All leftover clothing will be donated to local charities. Invite a friend and let's have some fun finding new-to-you outfits!

Sunday, December 21, 6:00 p.m. at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

A contemplative sung service focused on Mary, Mother of Our Lord. On this longest night of winter, consider bringing a donation of new, warm socks to help Chaplains on the Harbor serve our neighbors in need!

The weekly deadline for submissions is Tuesday at noon.

Before submitting an announcement for the eNews, please review submission guidelines.