Greetings GraceLife!

Last Sunday, we at GraceLife Sarasota honored the beginning of the Advent season, a time for us to give thanks for the birth of our Savior and to prepare our hearts in anticipation of His return.  We hope the following reminders/announcements will help you as you make your plans for the season.  (Note:  ML is Mount Lockwood; MB is Mount Beneva.)
 
Dec 3rd – Bible Study, Sisters in Prayer, BLAZE Youth at MB, 7pm
 
Dec 4th – Ladies’ Bible Study at MB, 10:15am – noon; Deep End, Dinner/Bible Study at ML, 7pm
 
Dec 6th – Men’s Bible Study at MB, 8am
 
Dec 7th – at MB
  • 9am worship service 
  • 10:30am worship service 
  • 10:30 – 11:30am -- Christian Education (CE) classes 
  • After 10:30am worship service – First Sunday Luncheon in Gym
  • 4-6pm, our BLAZE Youth group will meet in the Loft. 

Dec 13th – Women’s Christmas Luncheon at MB, doors open at 11am; lunch begins at 11:30am.  Sign up to attend!   Also on Dec 13th, there is a chance to serve our local Salvation Army by bell-ringing at Fruitville Publix (1-3pm slot available) Sign up to serve!
 
Dec 14th – We’ll be celebrating the Lord’s Table during both MB worship services!  It serves as a reminder of all that He’s done for us.  Romans 5:8 says, “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   

Dec 21st – GLKids Season Celebration, from 3-5pm, in the Gym at MB.
 
Dec 24th – Plan to spend Candlelight Service time with us at MB on Christmas Eve!  More info is coming soon.  
 
That’s our quick summary of upcoming events.  See below for more details!
 
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This Sunday will be just our 5th Lord’s Day as the new GraceLife Sarasota church – a newly formed body of believers, seeking His guidance as we continue to better serve Him and each other. 
 
As a reminder about Sunday mornings at Mount Beneva…
  • If you need assistance in our parking lot, please signal to one of our parking lot attendants.
  • The Lobby is the place for:
    • The “Connection Crew” (Greeters to assist you and Connection Center for bulletins/programs, sign-ups, books, t-shirts,…).  Sometimes we shift around our displays as room permit, but if you don’t see something you’re looking for, please ask for help!
    • New name tag requests are processed each week.  We make your new tag, then place it in the appropriate drawer in the corner bank of drawers.  If you don’t find your name tag there, please let us know.  (A Lost and Found is in the same corner.)
    • Coffee, snacks, plus some pastries are provided for your enjoyment.  They will be refreshed throughout the morning.  Please bring only lidded beverages into the Auditorium/Sanctuary.  (We ask that you avoid taking food into the Auditorium/Sanctuary.)
  • There are two services in our Auditorium/Sanctuary – one at 9am and one at 10:30am; Christian Education (formerly known as Sunday School) classes are held from 10:30 – 11:30am.  Adult CE classes are held in the Gym; Youth CE classes are held in the Loft; Children’s classes are in the Children’s Wing.
  • During the worship services, you’ll find Connect Cards in the under seat bin of the chairs.  Please use these for most any information about yourself you want to provide (contact info, interests, prayer needs,…)
Usual Wednesday evening activities at Mount Beneva (starting at 7pm) this week (December 3rd) will include the Adult Bible Study in Room 105, our Sisters in Prayer in the Fellowship Corner, and our Youth in the Gym Loft.  For the Adult Bible Study time, Elder Jeff Lawson is launching a new study on the book of Judges.  We’ll be tackling the first chapter this Wednesday. Please have read Judges 1.  Look for half-hearted discipleship in this chapter and its implications!
 
A Ladies’ Bible Study/Grace Group will meet this Thursday, December 4th, 10:15am – noon, in Room 105, at our Beneva campus.  The focus of the study is the book of Psalms and is led by Linda Swartz. 
 
Later Thursday, December 4th, the Deep End/Grace Group will meet at 7pm for dinner and study at our Lockwood campus, led by Cindy Lanoue-Foster.
 
This Sunday, December 7th, we’ll offer ONE Adult Christian Education (CE) class, from 10:30 – 11:30am, in the Gym, at Mount Beneva, as Elisha Fowler leads a study of the Sermon on the Mount.  
 
Youth fellowship opportunities!  We have a student ministry program just for you: Christian Education hour Sunday mornings from 10:30-11:30am; then 4-6pm Sunday evenings; and, mid-week Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm.  You can also join this GraceLife group by clicking this link. https://gracelife-sarasota.churchcenter.com/groups/unique/blaze-youth
 
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One in our GraceLife family creates greeting cards for various occasions.  If you’d like to participate in some card-making and fellowship, please call Brenda Castleyoung, 443-254-5422 (note corrected number).  Also, if you have cards you’d like to donate for re-purposing, you may leave them at the Beneva office in a bag/container marked for Brenda.  Thank you!
 
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We are initiating an effort to pair up those in need of a ride on Sunday mornings with those who can provide a ride.  This Sunday you will see a table in the lobby of MB to collect information on both those in need and providers.  In terms of a near-term need, please respond directly to this email.  
 
Beyond this week, here are some upcoming events for your planning purposes.  Another great way to learn more about events is to visit our website gracelifesarasota.com and select EVENTS and choose Calendar or Featured Events.  Check it out!   
 
December 13th – Our first “merged” Women’s Christmas Luncheon!  Sign-ups available at the Connection Center or through our website.  
 
Also on December 13th, through our Missions Committee, we’ll be serving the needs of our community on behalf of the Salvation Army’s Christmas Bell-Ringing campaign.  One 2-hour shift remains available from 1-3pm at the Publix on Fruitville (5391 Fruitville Road). 
 
December 14th – We hope you’ll plan to join us as we celebrate our Lord’s Table/Lord’s Supper, Communion (you may hear it called by many names) during both worship services.  It is more than an act of worship for an individual; it is a communal meal that expresses our unity: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17).
 
Dec 21st – GLKids Season Celebration, from 3-5pm, in the Gym at MB.  See the flyer at the Connection Center for more details.  

December 24th – As you look ahead to Christmas Eve, please consider spending a portion of that special evening in worship with us for a Candlelight Service.  More details are coming soon.
 
As a reminder:  Our finances will be equitably shared for the remainder of this calendar year, leading to a merged system for 2026.  You may continue to provide tithes and offerings in the manner you are accustomed through 2025.  As we enter 2026, you’ll want to identify your giving recipient as “GraceLife Sarasota” by whatever payment mechanism you use.  Also note that Givelify will no longer be available, so the few of us who use Givelify will need to use a different giving option (through our website, Church Center, checks, recurring payment through our banks,…).  Now is the time to plan!