Grace Times

Vol. XXV/04 Grace Bible Church, C 930, Sector B Mahanagar, Lucknow, India December 2022

Dear Church family,

Pulpit Calendar We have already stepped into the advent season.
December 2022 Soon, the people will begin to 'feel' the spirit of
Christmas as we get closer to the 25th of December.
For the remaining 11 months, we do not engage in
Morning Services at 10.00 am anything explicit about Christmas. Have you ever
04 Ps. Ignatius Shimi Preetham thought from when did Mary become conscious of
(Holy Communion Service) Christmas? The angel Gabriel announced to her that
11 Sunday School Christmas Play she will be pregnant with a child through the Holy
(Evening 6 pm) Spirit. So maybe from April she knew this and was
18 Christmas Lunch waiting expectantly for this miracle child. For nine
(no service in church) months she carried baby Jesus in her womb. The
25 Ps. Ashish H. Khan sacrifice that Mary made for bearing Jesus is com-
(Christmas Day) mendable. Becoming a mother without having any
union with Joseph, must have been an emotional
battle. Since the Jewish Old Testament was ready by
Thursdays at that time, she may have heard about the prophesies
6.30 p.m. about Jesus- birth, suffering and death as well. All
(1 Samuel)
these juxtapositions must have been harsh for a 14-
8 online–Zoom
15 year old teenage girl. But in spite of these mixed
bags of emotions, plus the confinement of preg-
Thursdays at 6.30 p.m. nancy, Mary waits for the miracle of Jesus birth.
01 online on Zoom There was no way for her to fast forward that part of
15 online on Zoom her life. Neither there is any indication that she
wanted to. Waiting is so hard, isn't it? We live at a
Thursday prayer and Bible study time when many processes can be put on a fast
will resume in January 2023
track. T - 20 cricket is replacing regular cricket. Short
Instagram reels are replacing full length videos. Peo-
ple have a reduced span of attention now and desire
instant gratification. Will we be able to wait pa-
tiently and intently for Christmas? Will we be able to
spend time in spiritual preparation of the Lord Jesus
Christ? Let this Christmas be about waiting patiently
upon the Lord. Let it be about being spiritually pre-
pared for the Lord. As we wait, let us look back at
the year gone by and introspect our lives. Let us also
look ahead and make sure that we are spiritually re-
newed in this especial season of God’s grace and
love.
In His service,
Ashish
 Receipts November Church sanctuary is open
General Offerings 22,190 for prayer from
Monday to
Fete receipt 10,150 Friday
Pledged Giving 50,500 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Missionary Support 7,800

Lent & Christmas offering
New Church Building
Designated collections
Sunday School
Grace Church in Village
Medical Aid Fund
GRAND TOTAL
Birthdays in December
1,000
29 Triza
2,820
1,000
95,460
JOYS & CONCERNS
Rev Raja and aunty Jeba taking a break in
South
Treza Masih is recovering from wounds on
her hands due to I.V. Also her sugar is in-
creased
Sumitabh Singh is recovering from his
shunt surgery. Needs restoration of his vi-
sion. Has rejoined his work
Shobha Prakash had her sixth chemo in
Delhi
Manohar Antin seeking further treatment

For Pastoral Care contact

Rev. Ashish H. Khan
964 843 1177
Rev. Ignatius Shimi Preetham
8318069259
gracebiblechurch.lucknowindia@gmail.com
www.gracebiblechurchlucknow.org
Carolers will be visiting on 15-16 December.
Watch out for the announcement!