Grace Local Ministries

■ Sunday Childcare

Childcare is a caring support to children under the age of 3. Parents can join the worship service fully by leaving their babies and toddlers with Grace nursery attendants in the nursery where there are lots of toys and amenities.

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■ Sunday School

(Gather after receiving the Children's Message in the sanctuary )

Sunday school classes are offered for children aged 3 to 10. After children leave the sanctuary and meet for a time of singing, children go to their Sunday school classes. 

Classes are split by age:

• 3 years old / JK / SK / Grade 1 
• Grade 2 & 3 
• Grade 4 & 5

All classes have a teacher and class helper, except Grade 4&5 which does not have a helper. Each class uses the Walk With Me curriculum that gives children a strong biblical foundation, helps them grow in their faith, and works with their unique learning styles.

■ GEMS

(Sunday evenings, 6pm to 7:30pm)

GEMS is a relationship–building club program created especially for girls! 

This club, for girls in grades 2 to 8, meets Sunday evenings at the church from 6pm to 7:30pm, September to May. Regular club meetings include Bible study and small group discussion, crafts, games, and of course refreshments.

GEMS Activities:

• Craft Nights
• Poinsettia Fundraiser
• Sleepover
• Badge Night
• Ice Skating
• Tobogganing
• Camp Out
• GEMS Sunday

Special Service Project:

The GEMS baked Christmas cookies which will be served at the "Out of the Cold" program. Get resources, shop & more at the official website of GEMS Girls' Club.

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■ Boys Club

(Sunday evenings, 6pm to 7:30pm)

Boys and everyone else are welcome to join an evening of Bible lessons followed by sports or games, such as road hockey, volleyball, and badminton.

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■ Cadets

(Sunday evenings, 6pm to 7:30pm)

This is a club for boys, in grades 3 to 8, which meets Sunday evenings at the church from 6pm–7:30pm, Sept. to May, and is similar to Boys Scouts in many ways. 

Cadets has the added dimension of being Christian. We enjoy many special events such as movie nights, pizza parties, bowling, gym nights, a winter retreat at a hunting cabin, and have our annual Kub Kar derby. 

The goal of Cadetting is to help boys grow spiritually in all areas of daily life (devotionally, mentally, physically and socially) thus learning and adapting to our environment in a Christian way, also being aware of God's influence in our lives.

We have:

• Cadet magazine, called Quest, which we use for Bible Study and crafts that helps us focus on the yearly theme.
• Kub Kar racing takes place each year which is the spring highlight for the boys, as they design and make their own to race against each other. 

The theme for 2018–2019 is "Be A Blessing".

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■ Vacation Bible School (VBS)

(A five-day event during the summer)

VBS runs for one week every summer, where children learn the Bible, play games, make crafts, make friends, and sing great songs.

Two classes:

• Full day (8:45am–4pm) for Ages 6–11
• Half day (Morning option available at 8:45am–12pm) for Ages 4–11

■ Youth Education (also known as Catechism for 11–18 years old)

This group focuses on learning more about the Christian faith and meets each Sunday morning following the sermon, except the last Sunday of the month and holiday weekends. 

Books for Catechism classes:

• Book for Grade 6 & 7: Believe Series (Walk With Me)
• Book for Grade 8 & 9: Questions Worth Asking
• Book for Grade 10 - 12: The Heidelberg Catechism

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■ Elevation Youth

(Sunday evenings, 6pm to 7:30pm) 

At Elevation we learn to build a SOLID foundation rooted in Jesus and then ... we have a blast with our friends! 

Philosophy: The Grace youth ministries program seeks to provide a positive atmosphere in which young people can meet together for fun, fellowship and to learn about God. We wrestle together with various questions during our Bible study times. 

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■ Building Leaders

(Two-week program in summer) 

All students aged 12 and up are encouraged to participate in this program. The objective of Building Leaders is to empower our youth to become leaders who are able to facilitate events while applying the servant-leader model of leadership skills.  

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■ Arise– Young Adult of Grace

(Saturday evenings, 7pm) 

Building more and better disciples, with one goal in mind: fulfilling the Lord's prayer, "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I in you." (John 17:21)

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■ Saturday Evening Young Adults Gathering

(Saturday evenings, 7pm to 9:30pm)

This is a gathering for all young adults to meet together for prayer and fellowship over finger foods. If possible, bring along some finger foods and a friend. 

■ Coffee Break Women Bible Study

(Wednesday mornings, 9:30am to 11am)

This weekly meeting group currently studies "Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks" (book by Priscilla Shirer). Please note that the meeting has been changed to start at 9:30 am in the Council Room on Wednesdays. This program is for women of all ages. No Bible knowledge is necessary. Bring a friend or neighbour for coffee & tea and Bible study!

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■ Men of Grace Bible Study

(Thursday mornings, 9:30am to 11am)

A weekly Bible Study meets Thursday mornings, 9:30am–11am, September to May. All men are welcome to join this meeting for a time of Bible Study, fellowship and socializing. Feel welcome to bring a friend along! 

■ Sunday Morning Prayers 

(Sundays, 9:45am to 10:15am)

Everyone is invited to pray for the ministries, church, societies, countries and each other. Any personal prayer request will be kept confidentially.

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■ Prayer Chains (telephone and email chains)

The purpose is to solicit prayer for people of the congregation who are going through a difficult time or facing surgery. All those involved promise to pray for the needs communicated via these prayer chains. If you would like to be added to either the telephone or email prayer chain, please contact the church office.  

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■ Prayer Guide (a bulletin insert)

If you have a thanksgiving report or a prayer concern that could be included in the prayer guide bulletin insert, please contact the church Office Administrator to be connected to the editor of "Our Prayers of Thanksgiving and Petition."

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■ Prayer Cell

Bringing together committed people who have a heart for prayer as part of building the kingdom of God. Grace Church currently has prayer cells which meet Sunday mornings at 10am before the service and Monday afternoons at 1pm. If you would like to join this prayer cell or start a new one, please contact Bette Kamerman.

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■ Prayer Walk

In the evening of the first Thursday of the month a group of prayers from Grace Church prays for the community while walking a couple of neighbourhood streets. The Prayer Walkers have focussed on a nearby plaza talking to the business owners and workers and praying for them.

■ Small Groups

(Fall 2018)

Small Groups (sometimes called Fellowship Groups, Cell Groups, or Home Groups) are 6–10 people who meet regularly to get to know each other, to love and care for each other, and to build each other up in the faith. Small Groups are important ways to build community within a church. 

This fall season we again would like to offer a variety of Small Groups which church members could choose from. For example, one group may focus on learning about Spiritual Disciplines, another on a book of the Bible, another on prayer, another on Christian community, another on parenting, another on board games and prayer.

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■ Alpha course

(February 2019)

Alpha is coming to Grace Church. Alpha is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting. At each session, people enjoy great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or too hostile – questions like: Is there a God? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Here at Grace Church we hope to host Alpha sometime in the next church season. 

Moreover, we may also want to host “Alpha for Youth.” Lots of training and preparation will be required. February 2019 is the target to be ready to host Alpha.