This Sunday in Dec 1 Worship

Dear Grace Family,

Last year during Advent, we started a new tradition at Grace. The Missions Team selected one ministry as our Advent focus. By picking one project, we could raise enough money to make a significant impact on a mission that is doing life changing ministry. Our mission in 2023 was Project 1020, the only cold weather shelter in Johnson County. The week after Christmas, I was able to deliver a check to Project 1020 for over $21,000. It was my favorite moment of the Christmas season.

One of the reasons we picked Project 1020 was the connection between our Christmas story where Mary and Joseph are looking for a place to lay their heads at night and the work Project 1020 does to provide beds for people in need. This year I am excited to announce that our Advent mission is Angel House, an orphanage and school in Tanzania. Our plan is to rotate between a local mission and an international mission each year.

Angel House is a United Methodist sponsored mission located in Gamasara Village in Tanzania. It opened in 2005 with 28 children. Today Angel House cares for 72 children from ten different villages. Eventually it added a school for children, preschool to college age. Currently they are raising funds to add six new classrooms for the primary school. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to build one of the classrooms.

Here is how our fund-raising works. During the four Sundays of Advent, you are invited to make a donation to Angel House through Grace UMC. We have certificates that you can take and give to family and friends that say you have made a donation in their name. On Christmas Eve, we will give away our entire offering to this project. It is a bold step of faith, but we believe that we are called as followers of Jesus to model generosity.

During the Advent season, you will learn more about the ministry that is happening at Angel House. I invite you to be in prayer for these children, their school and how you can support these young people who just want a chance to make a difference in their communities.

See you in worship!

Barry

Each Tuesday Pastor Mitch publishes a devotion on his website Weeklydevotion.com.  If you’d like to receive this in your inbox, drop him an email at   and just say “Sign me up!”