Service in Observance of Memorial Day

Grace Church will host a meditative worship service for Memorial Day on Sunday, May 25, at 6:00 pm.  This will be a time of remembrance of all those who have died in the service of our country, with a special focus on the necessity of continued efforts to bring an end to all wars and to promote peaceful solutions to conflict.  Guest speaker will be Michael Freeland.  Music will be provided by Steve Wiggin and Vanessa Keiper, violinist.  All are welcome.  Come and bring your friends and neighbors.   

Visit Grace's Closet

Last Sunday after the worship service, many of those who were here had their first peak into Grace's Closet.  It is quite impressive and will be open again this Sunday for your viewing.  James Starks, who is a volunteer with Aaron McNeil House, is the clothing organizer and makes appointments with those in need of clothing.  Referrals for clothing come through AMH, and we are encouraged to either make our donations through AMH or directly to Grace's Closet.  Receipts for tax deductions are available either way.

Moving forward we will have other opportunities to provide volunteer services through this valuable ministry.  

No Schedule Change for Sundays!

Having received no indications of opposition to not changing to an earlier Sunday schedule for the summer, we will continue with Sunday services at 10:15 am.  Thank you to those who sent in a positive response!     

Benjamin Hart's Ordination

Many people have expressed an interest in sharing rides to attend Benjamin Hart's ordination to the priesthood which will be held on Friday, May 30, at 6:00 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church in Murray.  Please call the church office and leave a message if you want to participate in ride-sharing. We should probably leave Hopkinsville around 4:00 pm to be sure to be there in plenty of time.  Hopefully a lot of us will want to attend.  Benjamin is scheduled to assume his position as an Assistant Priest at our church on July 1.  This is an exciting time for Grace with many possibilities for growth and development.  This opportunity is made possible through a two-year grant through the Diocese of Kentucky which will pay for about 40% of the cost of his being here.  Additionally, we have received special monetary gifts from church members to cover another 30% of the cost for the first year, and we are hopeful that the other 30% will be forthcoming.  Please let Bill Nichol, Charlie Ross or Alice Nichols know if you would like to contribute.    

"Fruit-Basket Turnover"

With Benjamin's coming to Grace, we will need to move people and furniture around a little.  Debbie Motes has indicated that she is happy being anywhere we might want to put her!  The current thinking is that moving her downstairs into the vesting room is our best option for now, and this would also allow her to have better access to people coming into the Gaither building.  Steve Wiggin is happy to move into Debbie's current office, leaving his office and the choir room available for Benjamin--having space also available in that area to begin a Level 2 atrium for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  We are trying to make the most of our limited usable space.  

Service for Alzheimer's Group

Last Saturday evening, twenty-five or thirty people gathered for a prayer vigil in support of the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer's which is scheduled for September.  This was a special time of meditation and reflection, including Edwin White's sharing his experience of his mother's illness and also the part she played in Grace Church's decision to install our labyrinth several years back. At the close of the service, a number of those in attendance stayed for a labyrinth walk.  Our frequent violinist Vanessa Keiper provided music.  It was a meaningful time, and we were fortunate to be able to host. 

Italian Supper for Pentecost (aka Church's Birthday Party)

June 8 is the Feast of Pentecost, the ending of the Great Fifty Days of Easter and the day of celebrating the "birth" of the church when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus' disciples and followers in Jerusalem--a good reason for a party!  We are hoping to renew the Grace Church tradition of having an annual Italian potluck supper by scheduling it on that evening.  So, mark your calendars and invite others to mark theirs.  You will be receiving more information soon!

Vestry Update

Grace Church's Vestry has been working diligently over the past many months to pull together and to move enthusiastically into the future that we believe God intends for us.  The Vestry is looking for ways to be more pro-active in getting information out to the parish, e.g., quarterly meetings and monthly reports.  As a way of beginning this effort, Vestry members would like to share what is called the "Vestry Litany" which is prayed together as part of the devotional time at the beginning of each meeting, hoping that church members will want to use this prayer in praying for our church as well.  We hope these words will be meaningful to you and also give you a better understanding of the direction of our work together as we see it.

Grace Vestry Litany

Holy Lord, we are your people-your "body" at Grace Church-and we long to be all that you have created us to be as your Beloved Community.

We pray that you will give us the will to reach out to the world in love and that you will help and support us in being openly welcoming and respectful of all who come to us seeking spiritual community.  We pray that you will fill us with your Spirit that we will reach out in compassion and generosity to those in any need.  Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that you will grow us into full maturity in Christ so that we may let go of any hatred, any dissension or animosity, any lack of charity in our community.  Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that you will make us a place of prayer-open for prayer at all times.  We pray that, through prayer and through community, you will deepen our relationships with you and with each other-that we will support and encourage each other on the spiritual journey and welcome all others to join in. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that you will send new members of all ages our way-that you will fill our church with children and teenagers, with adults of every age-all working together to serve you.  Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that you will make our church community a place of energy and happiness and harmony-a place where people want to be--a place where everyone can hear clearly the message of your unconditional love. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that you will focus us toward your future-expanding our vision and growing our mission.  We pray that we will become a church that is known for its compassion and outreach programs.  Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that you will make us generous givers so that we can have a more and more positive impact on our community.  Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray that we will be a church that stands the test of time-honoring our deep history, our faithful parishioners of earlier times, and balancing that with sustained growth and community service-sharing a common purpose and common goal.  Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We make all these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.