Hello COG Family! I pray your week is going well.

Please see below to keep up-to-date on COG activities. Reach out if you have questions or want more information.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday!


Christmas Thoughts

It is the time of year when everyone is in a hustle preparing for Christmas. There are presents to purchase, parties to go to, school events for our kids and grandkids, and so much more. We can find ourselves so focused on the busyness that we lose focus on what this time of year means for us as Christians: the birth of our Lord and Savior.
 
One way for us to keep our focus on Jesus this time of year is to spend time reading the Bible. There are many great Advent devotionals online and on Bible apps that can help us intentionally dig deeper into God's Word this season. Two solid options are Advent: The Journey To Christmas and Emmanuel: God With Us, an Advent Devotional . My challenge for all of us is to slow down, get into the Word, and focus on the true reason for the season. Take time as a family to reflect and worship the One who came and gave all for us.

Pastor Chris
Upcoming Events
Communion will be observed on December 15th at the end of service.

Christmas Eve service will be on December 24th at 5:30 pm. Invite family and friends.

COG offices will be closed from December 25th through January 1st. We will return on January 2nd.

2020 Budget: Copies of the 2020 budget are in the back of the sanctuary for your review. If you have questions, please reach out to one of the elders. Elder contact information is on the back of the bulletin or online . COG members will vote on the budget on December 15th after service.

End of Year Tithes and Offerings: If you would like to make an end of year donation, please have it in the church office by the end of service on December 29th. This deadline also applies to online giving .

Christmas Caravan: Ladies, this annual Christmas event will be a time of fellowshipping, doing an act of kindness, and enjoying dinner together. The plan is to meet at church on December 15th at 4:00 PM to form carpools. The cost is $5, which will go toward the act of kindness. If you would like to contribute more, please bring extra cash. You can sign up at the Women's Ministry table or reach out to Judy Cale for more details.

Foreign Missionary Visit: Plan to come and be encouraged by what God is doing in the underground and persecuted church around the world. On Sunday, December 15th at 6:30 pm, Timothy Crabtree -- a former BMDMI missionary and friend of Eric Paulsen -- will be sharing about the many ways he and his wife have been used by God to impact His world overseas. Bring a dessert to share!

Christmas Fellowship: On December 22nd at 9:00 am, the Chefs of Grace will be setting up finger foods to enjoy before service. Plan on coming to Sunday service a bit early to enjoy light snacks and drinks.

Christmas Choral Musical: Be amazed by the talent within our community. Join us on December 22nd at 5:00 pm at COG for an evening of celebrating the birth of our Lord and the hope He brings.

More events and information can be found at the Get Connected table in the back of the sanctuary, in our weekly bulletin, and on our website .
Recurring Events
Men: Tuesday Bible Study at 6 am in Joel's office.
Women: Friday Bible Study at 9:30 am at Carino Coffee .
Student Ministry: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the South Building.
Olin Ministry: Saturday meal rotation. Contact Missy Noel @ 720.373.0216.
Prayer Ministry: Sundays at 8:30 am in the South Building.
COG Celebrations
Welcome!
We want to welcome David Finton as our worship pastor!  He and his family have been an integral part of Community of Grace for years, and we're thrilled that God has led David into this new role. David has many years of experience leading worship and will bring this experience and enthusiasm, along with his heart for following Jesus and leading others to do so also, to our Sunday morning time in worship. David will be leading worship as time permits until he is available full time in the summer of 2020. We encourage you to take a moment to congratulate the Finton family -- David, Ellie, Jacia, and Will -- in person and get to know them better.  
Christmas Decorating at COG
On November 23rd, we had a crew of LifeGroup members show up to help decorate the North Building and the Kids Zone in the South Building. The team assembled trees, set up decor, and decorated the doors to the children's classrooms. Thank you to everyone who was able to help decorate for Christmas this year.
Spotlight
Thanksgiving at the Olin
Community of Grace has been taking Thanksgiving meals to the residents of the Olin Apartments in downtown Denver for many years. This year volunteers from COG prepared and served meals to roughly 60 of the residents. The Olin is a HUD property located close to Denver's Capitol Hill that assists older and disabled individuals

COG members not only served food, but we were blessed to be able to spend time with the Olin residents. Many of these residents do not get a meal like this regularly or the chance to talk with visitors.

After serving the Olin residents, a small group took containers of food out to the streets to give to the homeless. God provided another opportunity for COG to help those around us

Thank you to Missy Noel for coordinating all the needs to make this holiday event successful. A huge thank you to everyone who cooked food, served, and participated in any way. It was great to see so many young children and young adults helping out.

Thanksgiving at the Olin only happens once a year, but the Olin ministry happens all year long! A rotating team of faithful volunteers take meals to a group of Olin residents every Saturday morning. If you have questions about or are interested in serving on the weekly Olin rotation, reach out to Missy to get more details.
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The Staff's Choice
The staff has started reading The Pursuit of God by A W Tozer. We have finished the first three sections of this book and have had great conversations. Here are a few questions we have discussed together:

  1. How hard are we pursuing God?
  2. Do our possessions sit on the throne in our heart?
  3. What keeps us from living our lives in God's presence 24/7?
  4. Is our relationship with God as close as our relationships with those around us?
  5. Do we realize and remember how close God is to us? As Tozer states, "He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts."
  6. Do we spend enough time trying to hear the voice of God? How can we be better at being still?