Christmas 2018 at Grace Chapel
If there's one gift our world needs this Christmas, it might be hope. And we need it, too.
More than wishful thinking, we yearn to believe that our lives can be good, that our world can be mended, that injustice will not prevail. Where can we find that kind of hope? We've been disappointed; we've learned to be careful with our trust.
And yet a star leads us, still, to Bethlehem--where the hopes and fears of every year come together and a child's birth changes what is possible.
Advent Sundays
December 2: Hope to the World
December 9: Hope from Your Past
December 16*: Hope Reborn
December 23**: Hope in Your Present
December 24: Hope with Us
December 30: Hope for Your Future
*On the 16th, we take a break from our regular Sunday preaching to hear the Christmas story told as a first person dramatic monologue, from the perspective of a historical, biblical character. You don't want to miss it!
**At our Wilmington Campus, join us for our Family Christmas Service, a festive, interactive service for the whole family!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Saturday December 22
7:00pm in Lexington
Sunday December 23
5:00pm in Lexington***
Deaf Ministry signing available at this service.
Korean translation available at this service.
Monday December 24
3:00pm and 4:30pm in Watertown
3:00pm and 4:30pm in Wilmington*
4:30pm in Foxboro
1:30pm, 3:15pm (Mandarin Chinese translation available), and 5:00pm in Lexington** Monday services will be live streamed as well.
Childcare will be available for newborns through age 5 at all campuses.
*Limited seating at our Wilmington Campus only; please email to request tickets. We're offering free tickets to help us appropriately plan for seating at each of our services. Tickets will be available in the lobby or by emailing Laurie Bean.
**At all Lexington campus services on December 24, we will offer a shuttle bus service from the high school to Grace Chapel. If you are a Grace Chapel regular, please consider taking advantage of this opportunity and allow our many guests to have the best parking spots. Parking suggestions for Lexington campus visitors can be found here.
***Our East Lexington campus congregation will join the Lexington campus for Christmas Eve services on Sunday, December 23 at 5:00pm at the Lexington campus. Contact Kate Fox for more info.
A Special Offering
Child Marriage - Girls Not Brides
42% of girls in Malawi are married by age 18. Child marriages are seen as a way to cope with economic hardship and even a way to protect young girls from increased violence. Torn from their families, alone and afraid, child brides are deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety.
World Relief partners with local church and village leaders to help reverse this trend. Entire communities are taught about the inherent God-given worth of girls. They are empowered with skills, knowledge and support to help stem the tide of early marriage. Let’s give girls a chance for hope and a new future in Malawi.
It's our tradition here at Grace to take a special offering at Christmas for a worthy cause outside our church. You're able to give through our app, by texting GCLEX to 779-77, or online at our giving page. You may also write a check to Grace Chapel with the designation “Christmas” in the memo line, and drop it in one of the special offering boxes (they're clearly marked) in the lobby on your way out.
Christmas Eve Live Stream
Couldn't make it to one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Services? Here's our Lexington campus service: