ADVENT & CHRISTMAS EVENTS
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We are very pleased to let everyone know that we are honored to donate our Christmas Eve offering this year to Project Monday. Project Monday is a non-profit organization focused on improving the overall wellness of minority children and young adults in underserved and underdeveloped areas, primarily in Michigan and Ghana. They are focused on inspiring, uplifting and supporting individuals to be a better person and prepare for the future. They are focused on providing health and education resources to improve their quality of life. They are focused on enhancing the overall well-being of individuals by focusing on goals for mental and physical health. The organization is led by Adwoa Anderson, the daughter of Elizabeth Anderson, who prior to her recent passing, was a long-time member of our congregation.
Christmas Eve Family Service
New Time! This year we’ll be telling the Christmas story, using shadow puppetry, hoping to capture the mystery and magic for our littlest ones. Candlelight and Holy Communion will also be observed.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Our annual Candlelight service with Holy Communion at a new time of 9pm, includes our chancel choir, flutist, violinist & soloists.
Blue Christmas Service
For many people, the approaching Christmas holiday does not bring with it the joy and happiness that is advertised on television or in greeting cards.
They may be facing a holiday after the death of a loved one or after a divorce. Perhaps they have been unable to have a child or have suffered through an emotional trauma. Or perhaps they feel pressured and overwhelmed by holiday preparations.
This year we will again attempt to reach out to people who feel such burdens by offering an ecumenical Blue Christmas service. For people who are grieving or who are in pain there is so much of this forced joyfulness at Christmas, and there is no sort of sacred place for grieving.
Perhaps your loss is recent and extremely difficult to bear. It may be years old, resurfacing every year as the Christmas season approaches. At a time when so many are rushing to shop, wrap, mail, cook, celebrate, we invite you to join us for a Blue Christmas service, This will be a time set aside to gather with friends, neighbors, and strangers to acknowledge our loss and share our grief; a time to work through our pain and loss. Together, let us look to God to hold us, comfort us, heal us. Please join us.
Mission Fair
This is a reminder for everyone that the Mission Fair will be ONE Sunday only, December 4. So, remember to bring your cash or checkbook that day! A portion of the sales will go to a (Mission Committee approved) designated group, either within GPC or community (such as prayer shawl group, STAGE, Welcome Inn, etc.), and the receiving group information will be displayed prominently on the table.
MOTOWN SOUPS- Your pre-order will be ready for you to pick up at the Mission Fair on 12/10. There will be a limited number of items for purchase at the Mission Fair, and you can also place orders that day. Contact Marilyn Koski at 248-224-8575 or marilynkoski1@gmail.com with questions.
You can view products at motownsoup.com, but if you order through the Mission Fair you will receive the special (reduced) Greenfield price!
Giving Tree
We are certainly thinking quite early about Christmas gifts this year. We are again hoping to meet our performance goal of 88 gift cards to deliver to families of children in need at The Guidance Center. We are seeking $25 gift cards for clothing and $25 gift cards for toys for each family. (prefer Walmart and Meijer since these are easier to get to for the families)
There is however a new twist this year. Some families requested that they receive Giving Tree gifts instead of gift cards because getting out to shop is rather difficult for them. The families receiving the actual gifts are counted in the 88 gift cards.
We need to have both the cards, and the gifts brought to the church on or before December 8. This will make it possible to deliver the cards and gifts to the families by Guidance Center staff by December 11. Please help us bring Christmas smiles to our families once again this year and meet our goal of 44 families.
Christmas Eve Services
There will be only one morning service at 10am. Wear your comfy clothing and join us for a fun service. You can even wear your pajamas if you like.
But then two services in the evening;
Family Service at 5:00pm
Candlelight Service at 10pm
Volunteer Food Delivery
Do you have an interest in helping directly address food insecurity in our community? GPC's Social Justice and Mission committees are teaming up with MiGen, a Michigan based organization that believes we all have the right to Age Out Loud and supports LGBTQ+ older adults. Their food program/MiCAFE offers a once per month delivery of non-perishable food items directly to recipients' homes. We need some delivery drivers to assist on Tuesday, December 19 and Monday, January 29 for a one time drop off. The locations are in Westland, Ecorse, Redford, and Ypsilanti. Sarah Pinch will be picking up the food boxes and distribution will happen at Greenfield the evening before delivering directly to homes. If you can help, please see Sarah or email s.pinch1225@gmail.com. More info about MiGen can be found here: https://migenconnect.org/
Community Holiday Sing-Along
Cana/Drayton Church 2119 Catalpa Drive, Berkley, MI
Refreshments Following Event
All Are Welcome!
*We are accepting donations of non-perishable food items or cash offerings to benefit the Berkley Cares Food Pantry*
Cookies with Santa
A wonderful opportunity for your child, niece or nephew, neighbor, or friend to have a visit with Santa in a much less hectic setting than the mall.
Bring your camera! Christian Ed is sponsoring this event and it’s free! All are invited! More details will be announced soon.
JOY Group Christmas Event
Please join us for a Christmas potluck and sing along in Fellowship Hall. See the JOY page for more info.
S.T.A.G.E. Stars in the Night Luminaries
STAGE Youth Ministry is offering luminaria to honor and remember loved ones this season, at the suggested cost of $5 each. The luminaria will be personalized with your loved one’s name, lit, and displayed outside your church on Christmas Eve. Please submit orders by Thursday, December 14. Order forms are available in hard copy at the churches or you can submit your order form online. You can pay for orders online with PayPal to stageyouth@gmail.com or by check, made out and mailed to STAGE Youth Ministry, 2119 Catalpa Dr. Berkley, MI 48072
Berkley Holiday Lights Parade
Our Holiday Lights Parade is quickly approaching, and we need your help! All ages welcome! Please meet at church at 4pm, December 2, to help decorate and stage cars for the end of the parade. You may meet us at our spot (TBD) at 5pm. We will have scarves to pass out and if you could wear red or green and festive gear. Parade Step off is at 5:30pm.