Please make plans to join us, for one of two services, as we celebrate Advent in the Celtic tradition.

Celtic worship is a simple, sometimes modest, service that uses plain language, meditative silences, and emphasizes our connection with nature.

Each worship service will focus on the light shining in the darkness.

Camp Gilmont will host our first service on Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 p.m. (weather permitting, worship will take place at the outdoor tabernacle.)

Westminster Presbyterian Church will host our second service on Tuesday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m. Westminster is located at 1330 S. Fielder Road in Arlington.

Come and bring a friend and experience the light that shines in the darkness.

Questions? Please email Rev. Steve Shive, who is leading worship.

______________________________________________________

Author J. Philip Newell, in the collaborative book Gathered and Scattered: Prayers and Meditations from the Iona Community, summarizes the difference in Celtic worship like this:

“A main characteristic that distinguishes the Celtic tradition is the belief that creation is essentially good… and God forever sees what is created as essentially good.

How this becomes interpreted in Celtic spirituality (and what has been regained since it has come back into popular practice in recent years) is a focus on incarnational living ─ that we are encouraged to see God in the ordinary things of life, creating no false divide between the sacred and the secular.

It is thus an integrative spirituality, joining body and soul, work and worship, wonder and ordinariness. It sees the presence of God infusing daily life and transforming it. Worship that is characterized as ‘Celtic’ takes on much of this flavour – exercising an awareness of issues common to the scope of creation and the human condition, with an emphasis on justice and healing.

It is typically offered in language that is inclusive, sensitive, honest, gentle, intimate, and heartfelt. Many find it appealing because it is relatively informal and highly accessible both intellectually and emotionally.”

Please make plans to join us, for one of two services, as we celebrate Advent in the Celtic tradition.

Celtic worship is a simple, sometimes modest, service that uses plain language, meditative silences, and emphasizes our connection with nature.

Each worship service will focus on the light shining in the darkness.

Camp Gilmont will host our first service on Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 p.m. (weather permitting, worship will take place at the outdoor tabernacle.)

Westminster Presbyterian Church will host our second service on Tuesday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m. Westminster is located at 1330 S. Fielder Road in Arlington.

Come and bring a friend and experience the light that shines in the darkness.

Questions? Please email Rev. Steve Shive, who is leading worship.

______________________________________________________

Author J. Philip Newell, in the collaborative book Gathered and Scattered: Prayers and Meditations from the Iona Community, summarizes the difference in Celtic worship like this:

“A main characteristic that distinguishes the Celtic tradition is the belief that creation is essentially good… and God forever sees what is created as essentially good.

How this becomes interpreted in Celtic spirituality (and what has been regained since it has come back into popular practice in recent years) is a focus on incarnational living ─ that we are encouraged to see God in the ordinary things of life, creating no false divide between the sacred and the secular.

It is thus an integrative spirituality, joining body and soul, work and worship, wonder and ordinariness. It sees the presence of God infusing daily life and transforming it. Worship that is characterized as ‘Celtic’ takes on much of this flavour – exercising an awareness of issues common to the scope of creation and the human condition, with an emphasis on justice and healing.

It is typically offered in language that is inclusive, sensitive, honest, gentle, intimate, and heartfelt. Many find it appealing because it is relatively informal and highly accessible both intellectually and emotionally.”

Grace Presbytery will operate with minimal staff during the final two weeks of they year, beginning Monday, December 19th – Friday, December 30th.

This is due to a combination of recognized holidays and staff members’ elected vacation days/PTO.

The office will also be closed Monday, January 1, 2023.

Many staff members will check email at least once a day, even when using vacation time, so please consider using email to reach staff members during the days listed above. For a comprehensive listing, visit our online staff page.

On behalf of the presbytery, please enjoy a peace-filled and joyful Advent and Christmas. Stay safe and be well!

Regular office hours resume Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

Young Adults of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth invite you to join them at Texas Christian University (TCU) on the lawn, just off University Drive, on the evening of December 22nd.

It’s the 48th anniversary of TUBACHRISTMAS!

FPC young adults and youth will join over 100 tubas, sousaphones, and euphoniums for a Christmas concert you’ll never forget!

Questions? Please email Eric Varnon, Director of Young Adult Ministry at First Presbyterian Church.

Young Adults of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth are hosting their annual Christmas Light Bus Tour on Friday, December 23rd!

You can reserve your seat online and come enjoy the evening.

Participants will enjoy a taco bar, catered by Freebirds, plus coffee and hot chocolate on the bus tour. Seats are limited, so sign up today!

Questions? Please email Eric Varnon, Director of Young Adult Ministry at First Presbyterian Church.

Do you know students heading to Southern Methodist University this year or new to campus in the last year?

UKirk SMU would love to meet them!

UKirk SMU is a New Worshipping Community of Grace Presbytery offering opportunities for worship, community, and faith development for students at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

They look forward to welcoming new friends into their midst!

You can refer a student via the UKirk website.

Questions? Please reach out to Rev. Jessie Light-Wells, UKirk SMU campus minister.

The Young Adult Ministry Committee (YAMC) meets quarterly at the Presbyterian Mission Center.

Moderator of the committee is Rev. Owen Gray. Presbytery staff representative is Gary Holloman.

To learn more about the Young Adult Ministry Committee and the Young Adult program, please visit this page on the presbytery website.

Questions? Email Owen or the YAMC committee.

Are you a pastor, serving currently or retired, in the East Texas region of Grace Presbytery?

Are you a commissioned pastor? Looking to connect with fellow teaching elders?

The East Texas Pastor Gathering is the perfect option! These fellowship events are most often scheduled during the lunch hour, early to mid-afternoon, and locations vary depending on the church available to host.

These gatherings take place quarterly and are usually scheduled several months in advance.

If you would like to learn more, including specific times and locations, please reach out to Jimmy Chapman, our consultant to the Committee on Ministry and East Texas liaison.

The senior high youth of Grace Presbytery gather each year for SHYC – a high energy weekend of challenging theme presentations, thought-provoking and encouraging small groups, music, worship, and of course, energizers.

Senior High Youth Connection (SHYC) is planned by a special team of adults and youth from across the presbytery in partnership with the Austin College ACtivators and takes place at Austin College.

Registration typically opens online two months prior to the event. Save the dates and join us!

Friday, January 27 – Sunday, January 29, 2023

Questions? Email Gary Holloman, Youth & Young Adult Program Director.

Austin College is located at 900 N. Grand Avenue in Sherman, Texas.

Soul Shop™ is a one-day workshop, hosted by Austin Theological Seminary, that equips faith community leaders to minister to suicide impacts as a regular aspect of their ministries.

The workshop will address the primary obstacles to dealing with suicide such as stigma, fear, and shame; statistics/facts about suicide; and how ministries can create a supportive environment while shifting the culture around how people deal with this subject and one another.

This opportunity is open to all faith leaders and benefits counselors, lay ministry leaders, first responders and essentially anyone interested in learning how to effectively minister to those impacted by suicide.

Workshop facilitator: Michelle Snyder, pictured above, is Executive Director for Soul Shop™.

Complete details are available on the Austin Seminary website, including cost and online registration links.

Questions? Please contact Erica Knisely, Director of Educational Design, Education Beyond the Walls at Austin Seminary via email or at 512.404.4870.

The stated meeting of Grace Presbytery will take place Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, located at 5871 Virginia Parkway in McKinney, Texas.

Please note: This meeting will be offered in a HYBRID format.

Members of the presbytery and elected commissioners have the option to attend in-person. Those who prefer to attend virtually will be able to participate via the AirMeet platform. Details and links are provided via email prior to the meeting.

Registration will open online 21 days in advance of the stated meeting.

Questions may be directed to the presbytery office or Mike Jones, moderator of Grace Presbytery.

One weekend only! GAP (God’s Awesome People) Weekend is open to all presbytery youth in 6th – 8th grade.

Participants will grow in faith in Jesus Christ, experience the beauty of creation, and worship God.

This adventuresome weekend in the piney woods also features mission projects, singing, canoeing, low ropes, hiking, archery, and small group activities.

Come see old friends and make new ones at GAP! We want to see you there!

Registration for GAP weekend will open online in early 2023. Save the dates and join us!

Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26, 2023

Questions? Email Gary Holloman, Youth & Young Adult Program Director.

GAP weekend takes place at Gilmont Camp and Conference Center in East Texas.

KidQuake weekends are a little like summer camp and a precursor to Youth Connection.

1st – 6th grade children are invited to attend. Participants enjoy outdoor activities, small group Bible studies, mission projects, and old and new friends.

Churches must send sponsors with children and children must come with a church; however, the sponsors will not be responsible for programming at the event. The sponsors concentrate on participation and supervising their group.

Past and future youth camp counselors provide the programming along with Austin College ACtivators and other presbytery leaders. A team of Grace Presbytery educators plan the event.

Registration cost per child includes housing, meals, all programs and a t-shirt.

KidQuake Registration Packet and online registration will be available in early 2023.

KidQuake weekends are a little like summer camp and a precursor to Youth Connection.

1st – 6th grade children are invited to attend. Participants enjoy outdoor activities, small group Bible studies, mission projects, and old and new friends.

Churches must send sponsors with children and children must come with a church; however, the sponsors will not be responsible for programming at the event. The sponsors concentrate on participation and supervising their group.

Past and future youth camp counselors provide the programming along with Austin College ACtivators and other presbytery leaders. A team of Grace Presbytery educators plan the event.

Registration cost per child includes housing, meals, all programs and a t-shirt.

KidQuake Registration Packet and online registration will be available in early 2023.

SAVE THE DATE!

Grace Presbytery’s Educator Group meets virtually via Zoom* every month, but this month they are also meeting in-person!

Rev. Shane Webb and Hallie Spence, Director of Discipleship & Outreach, have graciously offered to host the educators group at Woodhaven Presbyterian Church in Irving on April 20, 2023.

Attendees share ideas and inspiration, as well as learn about new Presbyterian children’s curriculum and discussions focused on liturgical planning.

Questions about this event, or other education/curriculum matters, can be directed to Resource Center Director, Leah Wyckoff.

*for Zoom login links and passwords, please contact Leah via email.

KidQuake weekends are a little like summer camp and a precursor to Youth Connection.

1st – 6th grade children are invited to attend. Participants enjoy outdoor activities, small group Bible studies, mission projects, and old and new friends.

Churches must send sponsors with children and children must come with a church; however, the sponsors will not be responsible for programming at the event. The sponsors concentrate on participation and supervising their group.

Past and future youth camp counselors provide the programming along with Austin College ACtivators and other presbytery leaders. A team of Grace Presbytery educators plan the event.

Registration cost per child includes housing, meals, all programs and a t-shirt.

KidQuake Registration Packet and online registration will be available in early 2023.

The Young Adult Ministry Committee (YAMC) meets quarterly at the Presbyterian Mission Center.

Moderator of the committee is Rev. Owen Gray. Presbytery staff representative is Gary Holloman.

To learn more about the Young Adult Ministry Committee and the Young Adult program, please visit this page on the presbytery website.

Questions? Email Owen or the YAMC committee.

New year ─ New vision ─ New experiment!

As proposed and approved by Grace Presbytery (by vote to suspend the standing rule requiring four stated meetings per year), the 2023 calendar year will feature two full-day stated meetings and two presbytery-wide fellowship gatherings.

Save the date, and make plans to join us in East Texas at Camp Gilmont on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Sample Schedule of the Day’s Activities:*

10:00 a.m. Arrival at Camp Gilmont
11:00 a.m. Fellowship Activities
12:00 ─ 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 ─ 3:00 p.m. Workshops & Camp Activities
3:00 p.m. Worship Service
4:00 p.m. Departure
*order of events may change

Examples of camp activities may include: Low ropes courses, archery, axe throwing, and/or canoeing & paddle boarding

Please stay tuned as plans come together. We’ll let you know once details are confirmed and registration opens.

Grace Presbytery’s annual youth mission trip takes place each summer.

It’s a great opportunity for youth throughout our presbytery to enjoy fellowship and hands-on mission work at a low cost to participants, while experiencing new communities each year.

Save the dates and join us next year!

Sunday, June 11 – Saturday, June 17, 2023

To learn more, and make plans for your youth group to participate, please contact Gary Holloman in the presbytery office or Jessica Karlinski at St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church in Richardson.

Confirmation Retreat is for youth (grades 6 & up) who are beginning their confirmation journey.

Churches are invited to kick-off their confirmation year with a bang by inviting students and their mentors to join us for a weekend-long educational & transformational retreat.

Students and mentors will have the opportunity to grow, bond, and meet other Presbyterian confirmands from across the presbytery.

Questions? Please contact Gary Holloman, Director of Youth & Young Adult Programs, or Emily Cox, member of the Children & Youth Ministry Committee.

The stated meeting of Grace Presbytery will take place Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, located at 9800 Preston Road in Dallas.

Please note: This meeting will be offered in a HYBRID format.

Members of the presbytery and elected commissioners have the option to attend in-person. Those who prefer to attend virtually will be able to participate via the AirMeet platform. Details and links are provided via email prior to the meeting.

Registration will open online 21 days in advance of the stated meeting.

Questions may be directed to the presbytery office or Mike Jones, moderator of Grace Presbytery.