Funeral Arrangements for Sarah Hammond

Here are the funeral arrangements for Sarah Hammond:

Visitation will be at the Littleton and Rue Funeral home from 4:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, March 6.

The funeral will be held at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church on Wednesday, March 7 at 10:30 am, with Pastor Daniel Powell presiding. A meal will be served immediately following the service in the fellowship hall. A private burial will be held later that afternoon.

As you share your condolences and prayers for the Hammond family, please remember as well the friends and family members of the other victims in this tragedy, including our own Lindsay Butterfield. One of Lindsay's closest friends was among those killed on Friday morning. Pray as well for all the students connected to our congregation as the spring break season begins.

Cleaning supplies needed

Our community connector at Snowhill writes to say:

We have a family that is need of cleaning supplies ... basic items like windex, soap, sponges, clorox wipes, fantastic spray. Store brands would be fine.

If you would be willing to contribute any of these items, please bring them to the Grace office marked to Tom Brodbeck's attention. We realize that a call like this could generate far more supplies than this family needs. If so, we will see that the extras make it one of the many other ministries supported by our congregation.

Thanks for being a blessing!

Pray for Christians in North Korea

The following paragraphs were copied from a press release issued by Open Doors, a ministry that works with Christians in the world's most oppressive countries:

On Sunday evening it was announced that Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, had died. North Korean news agencies reported that Kim Jong-Il had died of fatigue from “overworking to serve the people of North Korea.” Kim Jong-Il was 69 years old.
 
Because of possible ramifications of his death for North Koreans and the entire world, Open Doors is calling for prayer for the country and the suffering Christians who live there.

“Today marks a significant day in North Korean history,” says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. Carl Moeller. “Though this brutal dictator, who was responsible for so many atrocities, has died, the future is still unknown. Some speculate that his son Kim Jong-Un will be just as cruel to all dissenters.  Others suggest that he may be more lenient. We simply do not know the future of North Korea, but God does.”

“This is why it is vital that Christians around the world pray for North Korea during this transitional time. Pray especially for the brave Christians inside North Korea. They are fearful that they might face even more suffering. There are an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians being held in North Korean prison camps where they face even more horrific treatment than other prisoners. People are starving to death. The people of North Korea are living a nightmare that never ends.”

For the past nine years, North Korea has held the No. 1 spot on the Open Doors World Watch List. The list ranks the top 50 countries which are the worst persecutors of Christians. The 2012 World Watch List will be released on Jan. 4 with North Korea expected to retain the top spot.

In North Korea, any form of worship to anyone other than the “Great Leader” (Kim Il-Sung) and the “Supreme Leader” (Kim Jong-Il) is seen as treason. North Korean Christians are often arrested, tortured or even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.

We invite you to join Christians around the world as we pray for our Korean brothers and sisters in Christ.

To read the entire press release from Open Doors, click here.

Baby Clothes Needed

The Pregnancy Resource Center needs size 12-month baby clothes (for both boys and girls). They need sleepers, onesies, regular outfits, coats, snow suites -- anything in those sizes. Donations may be brought to Grace and placed in the PRC box located on underneath the mailboxes in the Grace offices.  Contact Ellen Dudney for more information.

Follow the Star

You are invited to the children's Christmas program, Follow the Star, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, in the Grace sanctuary.  Children will read the Christmas narrative from Luke. Christmas carols will be sung by all. A cookie reception will follow in fellowship hall.

Keep up to date with all the events of this Christmas season through the Grace website! Click here to connect.

Snowhill Child Needs a Christmas

The Student Support Facilitator at Snowhill School just sent us the following request:

I have a small favor to ask of you! I have a mom who called me today and is in desperate need of some help. Her husband is back in the state they just moved from. He was supposed to move here with them, got caught up in work back there. She is without a car and has 1 daughter. Her daughter is a sweet girl in 6th grade. Would you be able to provide some Christmas gifts for her? She needs pants and shirts size 12/14, would like to have the Monster High girl werewolf doll or littlest pet shop stuff for Christmas. If you are able to do any type of gift card to Walmart, Meijer, Target etc, that would help mom get stuff for the home like cleaning supplies etc. I am going to provide them with food we have collected here at school and a turkey for Christmas dinner.

If you would like to help, please coordinate your efforts through Tom Brodbeck (tom.brodbeck@grace-nalc.org).

Winter Coats

Our Young at Heart ministry is currently conducting its annual coat and blanket drive, now through December 4. We encourage you to contribute your gently used or new items for area families who need them this winter. You will find the brown collection container located just outside the Grace coat closet in our narthex. Your contributions will be given to Interfaith Hospitality network.

The need for coats in particular is great. We have heard from at least two other area agencies, telling us that their inventory is very low.