Grace Notes
December 23, 2010
Vol. XXXVI No.50
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
3604 N. BEN JORDAN, VICTORIA, TX 77901
TTelephone
(361) 573-4840
E-Mail
grace@gracevictoria.org
Website
www.gracevictoria.org
__________________________________________________
FROM DAN’S DESK
TIROLER VOLKSLIED
Singing and celebration just seem to go together. Maybe that is why singing always seems to
be such a big part of Christmas. Do you have a favorite Christmas Carol? I have many. O
Holy Night is certainly on that list. So are Away in the Manger and Hark, the Herald Angels
Sing, Joy to the World, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and many more. One that always moves
me, and that we sing at least a few times every year is Silent Night.
The story goes that this great carol (Christmas song) was written hastily on Christmas Eve in
1818, in the Austrian town of Oberndorf , in the region of Tyrol. It was originally entitled
Tiroler Volkslied (Tyrolian Folk Song.) It was written by Joseph Mohr, the pastor of St.
Nicholas Church. The church had just been completed but as everyone was getting ready for
the important Christmas Eve service they discovered that the organ was not working.
Quickly, Father Joseph wrote down a few words that could be song easily without an organ. He
gave the words to the organist Franz Gruber and asked him to put it to a simply tune that could
be sung. Gruber asked if it would be alright if he played the song on the guitar, and Mohr
agreed. That Christmas Eve, 1818 the song we call Silent Night was first sung by a duet
accompanied by a guitar.
Popularity of this beautiful song spread and it was published for congregational singing in 1838.
It wasn’t translated into English in the U. S. until about 1863, during the Civil War.
So often it is in our adversity that we find God doing marvelous things. It was here, on that
night almost 200 years ago, that a silenced organ gave the world the sound of Silent Night.
Grace, peace, and Merry Christmas
Dan 
Coming Up this “Christmas Eve”……...…
Sermon: When The Angels Had Left Rev. Dan Fultz
Introit: Like a Child, I Wait by Kelley Moody
Anthem: Peace, Hope, Light, Love by Choir
Offertory Music: What Child is This? By Dona Sabin
Musicians: Sandra Glenn & Dona Sabin
Christmas Eve Service,
Friday, December 24th @
6:30 pm with reception
following service.
Come celebrate and visit
with us in Tracy Hall!
Bring some cookies to
Coming Up this “1st Sunday after Christmas”……...… share; you can drop them
VCAM SUNDAY
off in the kitchen before
Sermon: Someone Does Understand You Rev. Dan Fultz
the service.
Musician: Sandra Glenn
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Aluminum Can Collection
Doug Warren made a second trip to the recycling center with 37 pounds of cans and
brought in $22.20 to add to the youth fund! Please save your aluminum cans and bring
them to the church for recycling. The money raised is used to fund activities for our
youth. It is nice if you rinse them out so they won’t stink or attract bugs. Please, do
not crush them. Bring them to the church anytime and we will take care of the rest. It is good for the
environment, good for our youth, and it will make you feel good too.
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Happy to let everyone know that Brian is at Warm Springs in Victoria and doing
much better. We borh truly appreciate all the concerns and prayers. God Bless, and
we pray our church family has a save and woderful Christmas. ~ Lynn
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Thank you so much for my Christmas bonus. It comes in very handy this time of
year. Your act of kindness means a lot to me. ~~~~ Sandra
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Thank you all for the generous Christmas bonus. You are all so wonderful to me
and I enjoy being your secretary! May you all have a wonderful and safe
Christmas with your family!
Janie
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The Breakfast Club Sunday school class is sponsoring a coat drive again
this year for the needy. The coats will be delivered to the Ron Brown
Company after January 25th. Anyone who wishes to donate a coat may place
them under the Christmas Tree in Tracy Hall.
We Are Almost There
We are only a few short days from the end of the 2010 budget year. Thank you for your
support financially, through the giving of your time, and by your prayers. As of December 22
we have received $219,668.68 toward our 2010 budget of $245,000. That leaves us $25,331.32
short. As they used to say in the old Smokey and the Bandit movies, “We have a long way to
go and a short time to get there...” Well, we really don’t have that far to go and I am confident
that we can get there. If you haven’t completed your pledge for 2010 it is not too late to send it
in. If you have met your pledge please consider an extra thanksgiving gift to the work of Grace
Church. Let’s start 2011 on a good note. Thanks and God bless.
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Dear Grace Presbyterian Church,
Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry (VCAM) thanks you for all of you hard work, time and
generous giving to this ministry that serves those less fortunate in our community. Your
generosity has provided VCAM with 925 pounds of food this year to date through food
donations and $3,691. Your giving has allowed VCAM to provide a greater variety of nutritious
food and quality service.
The need in this community has grown substantially the past few years and VCAM’s growing
client numbers reflect that growth. It is through the continued support of this community that
VCAM will continue to meet those needs.
Thank you again for your generosity towards this ministry and those whom we serve. You have
blessed VCAM in many ways through fundraising, volunteerism, and board participation. We
look forward to a new year of partnering with you in this, you outreach ministry.
The VCAM family wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year! Thank you
again for your generosity and giving!
In Christian Love,
Your Friends at VCAM
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The Calendar for flowers for worship is displayed in the
office corridor. Please choose a date and help decorate our
sanctuary.
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LET US BE GENEROUS
WITH GIFTS WE CAN GIVE
TO OTHERs: Time, Good
Example, Acceptance, Seeing
the Best in People, Self-esteem,
Self-disclosure, Helping
Someone Learn Something
New, Listening, Fun, Letting
Others Give to You.
Become one of our friends on
Facebook. Just search for
Grace Presbyterian Church!
Budget 2011
$242,000.00
pledge goal: $213,000.00
2008
2009
2010
71 pledges
69 pledges
60 pledges
202,051.00
198,456.00
183,770.00
2011
12-08-10
12-15-10
12-22-10
36 pledges
44 pledges
49 pledges
$131,625.00
155,745.00
171,665.00
DID YOU REMEMBER TO SEND IN YOUR PLEDGE FOR
2011?
As of Wednesday, December 15, 2010
– compared to 60 pledges received last year:
04
17
24
04
15
64
new pledges for 2011 (did not pledge in 2010)
increased their pledge for 2011
are unchanged from last year
decreased their pledge for 2011
have not pledged for 2011
6%
27%
37%
6%
23%
99%
Average pledge amount for 2008
$2,845.79
Average pledge amount for 2009
$2,876.17
Average pledge amount for 2010
$3,062.83
Average pledge amount for 2011
$3,503.37
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THIS WEEK IN GRACE
Sunday, December 26th
Wednesday, December 29th
8:30 am Worship Service w/communion
9:30 am Sunday School
10:45 am Worship
No Bells Rehearsal
No Wednesday Night Grace
No Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday, December 28th
Next Sunday, January 2nd
VCAM SUNDAY
6:30 pm Good Grief Gang @ The Corral
8:30 am Worship Service w/communion
9:30 am Sunday School
10:45 am Worship w/communion
3:45 pm Homewood