December 11th, 2024

 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.  

- Luke 1:52-

Monday morning, I was preparing for our weekly church service at our local retirement home. I was setting up the computer and distributing the song sheets of the day while two ladies were talking together in the front row. I honestly don’t know the extent of their conversation, but one of them said something that caught my attention. 

“I’m going to be cremated,” one of the ladies said boldly.  

Without hesitation, her friend excitedly said,  “Yea, me too!”

I had wrongly assumed these ladies were talking about the snowy day, their dinner last night, or perhaps even their grandkids. But these wonderful women were not talking about any of those things. Instead, these two faithful ladies were confidently talking about death. I looked in their faces and they did not appear sad, disappointed, or even anxious. Instead, they were confident. They knew to die would be gain, because of one person- Jesus. 

Both of these women knew the Lord and were there to celebrate what He had done for them, and knew they didn’t need to worry about death because they had a Savior who conquered it! As the Apostle Paul proclaimed, 

 “Where, O death, is your victory?

 Where, O death, is your sting? 

 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through

our Lord Jesus Christ.

-1 Corinthians 15:55-57

We can be confident too! Jesus came in the humblest of ways. He was not born in an opulent oasis or a king’s castle, he was born and placed in a humble food trough for animals. The announcement of this birth came not from the top of pillars in Jerusalem’s temple but on a hillside outside of Bethlehem. 

The announcement of the long-awaited Savior’s birth was made from mighty angels to lowly shepherds tending their flocks at night. No packed stadium to hear the news, no audience applauding the announcement, just shepherds. That’s what God does- he exalts the lowly and humbles the exalted. 

This week, we continue our Journey to the Nativity, as Mighty Angels tell Lowly Shepherds the Good News of Great Joy! See you Sunday- I can’t wait!  

Pastor Austin 

Would you like to submit your offering online? Thank you!

Simply click the button to securely give to Grace Fellowship.

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Would you like to submit your offering by mail? Thank you!

Please send offerings to:

Grace Fellowship Church

PO Box 4280

Gypsum, CO 81637

Proclaim Jesus as Savior. 

Nurture faith in Jesus. 

Serve in the name of Jesus.

Our Purpose

Embrace Christ!

The Calendar at a Glance 

• December 9th - Castle Peak Worship service @ 10 am

• December 11th - Shine Middle School Girls @ Yeti's Basement from 8:15 am to 9:15 am (last meeting until after the new year)

• December 13th - Revelation Bible Study Fellowship @ 9 am

• December 14th - Children's Christmas Service practice from 9 am to 11 am

• December 15th - Children's Christmas Service @ 9 am, Worship Service @ 11 am, Connect Hour Fellowship from 10 am to 11 am

• December 16th - Castle Peak Worship service @ 10 am

• December 20th - Revelation Bible Study Fellowship @ 9 am

• December 22nd - Worship Services @ 9 am & 11 am, Connect Hour Fellowship @ 10 to 11 am

• December 23rd - Castle Peak Christmas Worship service @ 10 am

• December 24th - Candlelight Christmas Eve Services 4 pm & 6 pm

• December 29th - Worship Services @ 9 am & 11 am, Connect Hour Fellowship @ 10 to 11 am

Fellowship Hour

Let's gather for fellowship between services from 10 to 11 am.

Bible study for all ages will resume after the new year!

Join us December 15th at 9 am when our children will lead us in our worship service,

Symbols of Salvation.

Parent Reminders:

• Practice December 1st from 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

• Practice December 8th from 10:15 am to 11:00 am (during fellowship hour) *Please note the change of time from 12:15



• Practice Saturday, December 14th, from 9 am to 11 am

Please email Missy Kraft with questions or for information - melissa@gracegypsum.com

Let's Journey to the Nativity together -

Invite your neighbors, friends, & family!

We would love for them to join us at our annual Candlelight Christmas Eve Services

4 pm | 6 pm

Fellowship in-between services -

Please bring a holiday treat to share!

Hot cider will be ready!

Help Us Decorate the Tree!

Grace Fellowship has a tradition of decorating our Christmas tree with ornaments from each church family.

We invite you to bring a family ornament to hang on our sanctuary Christmas tree!

Label the ornament with your family name and the year

and hang it on the tree any time before Christmas!

We'd like to say a special thank you to all our volunteers who have served the Lord at Grace Fellowship! Your service is a gift to us and our church family!

Please submit your unavailable dates to Missy for the upcoming quarter - January through March by December 13th. Thank you!

Would you like to be a new volunteer? Contact Missy below!

Gather 'Round the Gospel weekly Bible study

will resume again after the New Year.

Middle School Girls!

Shine will meet December 11th

from 8:15 to 9:15 am

@ Yeti's Basement!

We will take a break beginning December 18th and will meet again beginning January 8th.

Act Now! Make Your End-of-Year Gifts

We’re in the final weeks of 2024, meaning you have an opportunity to help create and sustain a space where people can have authentic encounters with others as they share the love of Jesus during the rest of this year, next year, and beyond! 

As a reminder, you can make a grant from a Donor-Advised Fund, give from your IRA, donate stock, or give cryptocurrency to help people discover their gifts and use them for God's glory in our community and the world—all while meeting your financial goals. 

Your contribution will potentially lower your 2024 taxable income while investing in all that God is doing at Grace Fellowship. We recommend making your gift before December 10th to ensure there is time for your brokerage, custodian, or DAF provider to process the gift and return your receipt before the end of the year!

As we continue to glorify God in all aspects of our lives, I hope you feel inspired by your blessings to consider giving in these ways. 

Thank you so much for being a part of our community of believers who proclaim Jesus as Savior, Nurture faith in Jesus, and Serve in the name of Jesus.

Growing Grace Fellowship

If you would like to give to our new church building. please complete the pledge form on Sunday and drop it in the pledge box in the lobby, or Click Here to give online. Thank you to all who have given! We are well on our way to our goal! To God be the glory!

Go GRACE Go!

Sunday Services

December 11th, 2024

9:00 or 11:00 am

-or-

ONLINE at 9:15

KIDS' CHURCH at 9:00 am & 11:00 am services

(Ages 3 through 5th grade) @ 9:00 am & (Ages 3 through 2nd grade) @ 11:00 am

Kids' Church follows the kid's sermon. They will further explore the day's sermon theme with their group. We can’t wait to see them!

NURSERY

Nursery for Newborns – up to 3 year olds.

Nursery is open during our 9:00 am service and during Connect Hour from 10:15-10:45!

Join us on Facebook this Sunday morning at approximately 9:15 AM, or view the recording anytime on Facebook, Vimeo or YouTube.

Click the image below to connect.

LORD JESUS, HEAL OUR LAND, OUR BODIES, AND OUR HEARTS.

Please pray for...

• Brookelyn's friend, Becca, who had brain surgery, and for her husband Josh. Give wisdom to the doctors and surgeons, friends and family to surround them with love and care, and a positive outcome and full recovery.

• Brookelyn & Caleb Sharpe, while Brookelyn is on bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy. Pray for strength and health and that their girls will be born healthy according to God's timing.

• Students who will be preparing for and taking finals to wrap up the semester before Winter Break.

• Individuals and families who will be traveling this holiday season.

• Blake Gould and his extended family, for the loss of his cousin, Paige Hubl. Please pray especially for Paige's mom and two sisters. Lift them up for His comfort and peace.

• Those who are sad, depressed, lonely, and disheartened. May the light of love shine upon them and bring joy to their hearts, despite their circumstances.

• Growing Grace Fellowship New Building Campaign. that the Lord will continue to provide in all aspects of the building campaign from funds raised to the design process.

• Everyone in our congregation and their families who are dealing with the pains and trials of cancer and other illnesses including Todd Purse; Connie Kerr; Keith; Chris; Sharon Hlavinka; Rance Ketterling; Amanda; Jerry Wiisanen; Rosemarie; Suzanne, Mary's sister-in-law; Aaron, Ryan, John Kirchner, Oliver, Debra Ketterling and family, Rita Rodriguez, Julie (Larry Arguello's sister), Elisa Marchetti, Pat (George's sister), Soffia, Kipp Hamberger.

GOD'S WILL BE DONE

Contact Information

www.GraceFellowshipGypsum.com 

Phone: 970-445-3101

Email: Austin@GraceGypsum.com 

Staff and Volunteer Staff

Pastor Austin Kraft, 970-688-1100, austin@gracegypsum.com 

Missy Kraft, Administrative Assistant/Youth Director, 970-445-3101, melissa@gracegypsum.com

Katie Harmon, Worship Director, 812-620-7155, katie@hawk-digital.com

Susan Flock, App and Website Coordinator, 970-361-4771, flock21@aol.com

Pastor Dan Rohlwing, Pastor Emeritus in Memoriam

Sunday Schedule

Worship Services: 9:00 and 11:00 am (nursery provided at both services).

Sunday School: 10:15-10:45 for all ages (Nursery provided)

Kids Church: During sermon-time at the 9:00 and 11 am services.

Affiliation

Grace Fellowship is affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (lcms.org).