About This Year's Advent Theme (from A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org)

Luke’s Gospel begins the story of Jesus with this opening line: “In the time of Herod…” This detail may seem minor to modern readers; however, it reveals layers of information about the fearful world Jesus entered, one filled with rampant oppression, economic disparity, uncertainty, and instability. A world not so unlike our own. And yet, throughout the stories of Christ’s birth, the whispers of angels deliver a surprising message: “Do not fear.” In our own time, we might ask: is it even possible to be fearless in a fearful world? When Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi are each called into God’s redemptive story, they do not deny their fears—they move through them. They ask questions, hold fast to courage, trust in good news, and say, “Here I am, Lord.” When we find ourselves in fearful times, can we acknowledge our fears while also insisting on hope?


Every Advent, we light candles, sing carols, and pray for Christ’s coming because we believe God entered a frightened world to bring good news. We hold onto hope because we believe that Christ did come—that’s the promise of the season. Our hope is not flimsy or fleeting. It’s gritty, resilient, and can endure—no matter what we fear or face. This season, let us insist on hope and trust that good news is greater than fear.


Sunday, November 23rd: LifeWise Gifts Sunday & Hanging of the Greens Lunch/Christmas Decorating Party

LifeWise Holiday Market: For decades, we have brought gifts to contribute to the LifeWise STL Holiday Market. This year, you are again encouraged to bring gifts for this Market. You may bring them to either worship service on Sunday, November 23rd, or you may bring them to the church office prior to November 23rd. Please do not wrap the gifts. They will be displayed unwrapped in the Holiday Market. All items should be new. Families will be allowed to shop for (and purchase at a steep discount) gifts for their family. 


Holiday Market Wish List: https://www.lifewisestl.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Holiday-Market-Wish-List-updated-8-2025.pdf

Holiday Market Amazon Wish List (with easy delivery): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1RS3JBA9SSD98


11:30am-1:30pm - Hanging of the Greens: Advent Decorating, Jo Ann King's 90th Birthday Lunch, & Children's Christmas Tree Creations

Stay after 10:30 worship for an exciting afternoon as we prepare for Advent and celebrate Jo Ann King's 90th birthday! The fun starts in Fellowship Hall with a meal generously provided by the United Women in Faith, after which children and their adults will move to Fellowship Center to make a variety of Christmas ornaments and anyone who would like to help out can decorate the church for Christmas (comfy shoes are recommended). To ensure we have enough crafting materials, children and their families are encouraged to register at 
 www.graceumc-stl.org/christmas-tree-creations 


Sunday, November 30th: First Sunday in Advent

8:30am — Worship in Chapel

10:30am — Worship in Sanctuary

Poinsettia Orders Due: https://forms.gle/Y62vtEBNEzMDhLrA7


Friday, December 5th

7:30pm — A Gift to the City

A free concert featuring Webster University Chamber Singers & Chorale and the St. Louis University High School Varsity Chorus.


Saturday, December 6th

9am-12pm — Christmas Dinner Preparations (Kitchen)

9:30-10:30am — Children's Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal (Fellowship Hall)


Sunday, December 7th: Second Sunday in Advent

8:30am — No Worship in Chapel

9:30am — "Birth Stories of the First Century" Short Course with Pastor Dori Hudson (Chapel)

10:30am — Worship in Sanctuary

11:30am — Christmas Dinner & Children's Pageant (Fellowship Hall)


Saturday, December 13th

8:30am-12:30pm — Lessons & Carols Dress Rehearsal (Sanctuary)


Sunday, December 14th: Third Sunday in Advent

8:30am — Worship in Chapel

9:30am — "Birth Stories of the First Century" Short Course with Pastor Dori Hudson (Fellowship Hall)

10:30am — Worship in Sanctuary

2pm — Lessons & Carols Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

4pm — Lessons & Carols Service (Sanctuary)

Celebrate the Christmas season with festive music at Grace United Methodist Church! Our candlelight Lessons and Carols service tells the Christmas story through music and scripture readings, following a tradition dating back about 150 years to Kings College, Cambridge. Candlelight carol services have been sung at Grace since the 1950s, and this year, the spotlight is on American music: Gospel, Spirituals, and Appalachian and Southern folk styles. The service features choir, organ and bell choir. Childcare provided. Service streamed at www.facebook.com/GraceUMCSTL. The Special Offering will benefit UMCOR International.


Tuesday, December 16th

12:30pm — United Women in Faith Christmas Luncheon (Fellowship Hall)

$10 suggested donation. Click here to register.

Following our delicious meal, we will be entertained by one of our music interns, Audrey Sondag. Audrey, a native of Norman, Oklahoma, is a senior at Webster University pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Dance. This past spring, Audrey spent eight weeks studying abroad in Vienna, Austria. She is passionate about accessibility, diversity, and representation in the performing arts. This coming year Audrey will be performing in Cendrillon at Webster University and Romeo et Juliette with Winter Opera St. Louis.


Wednesday, December 17th

6:30pm — Longest Night Service (Sanctuary)

This reflective, solemn service creates a sacred space for healing and hope for those who have experienced loss or are otherwise hurting this Christmas season. This service is an opportunity for us to reflect on our struggle as we dwell in it, or speak to the darkness looking for light. Wherever your spirit is this season, you are welcome to come to this safe space. Service streamed at www.facebook.com/GraceUMCSTL.


Sunday, December 21st: Fourth Sunday in Advent

8:30am — Worship in Chapel

9:30am — "Birth Stories of the First Century" Short Course with Pastor Dori Hudson (Fellowship Hall)

10:30am — Worship in Sanctuary

6:30pm — Carols & Cocoa at Grace UMC Parsonage (6374 Waterman Ave.)

We'll meet at the Grace parsonage and walk around our church neighborhood to spread Christmas cheer. At 7:30pm, we'll return to the parsonage to warm up with cocoa, cookies, and Christmas stories!


Wednesday, December 24th-Friday, January 2nd

Limited Office Hours: Call 314-863-1992 or email secretary@graceumc-stl.org


Wednesday, December 24th: Christmas Eve

4pm — Christmas Eve Worship Service & Children's Black Light Extravaganza

8pm — Christmas Eve Worship Service

Service streamed at www.facebook.com/GraceUMCSTL

The Christmas Eve Special Offering will benefit the Grace UMC Food Pantry.


Sunday, December 28th

8:30am — No Worship in Chapel

10:30am — Worship in Sanctuary


Sunday, January 4th

8:30am — Worship in Chapel

10:30am — Worship in Sanctuary

11:30am — Post-Advent Soup & Chili Potluck, Decoration Clean Up, and Star of Wonder Family Epiphany Celebration 

Kids of all ages are invited to stay after church for the potluck and join us for Celestial fun in honor of Epiphany. We will have activities, crafts, and fun planned for kids ages 0 and up. Parents are invited to stay with their kids or leave them in our care to help with the churchwide effort to take down Christmas decorations and reset the church for the new year. Children under age 3 will need a parent present at the event. Please register at www.graceumc-stl.org/star-of-wonder