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Grace Episcopal Church
Parish News
February 2018
(updated 2/10/18)
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Sundays
Holy Eucharist
8am,10:30am and 5pm
February 11
, Taize` Eucharist, 5pm
Music in the meditative Taiz
é
tradition with prayers and readings from Scripture.
Sunday, February 11, Pancake Breakfast and Lenten Jeopardy
We will celebrate the end of the Epiphany season with a Shrove Sunday Pancake Feast. Come and eat your fill of pancakes and sausage and play a fun and informational game of Lenten Jeopardy! (Sorry, Alex Trebek will not be present.) Christian Education will resume Sunday, February 18.
Sunday, February 25
9:30 AM Joint Holy Eucharist
10:45 AM Annual Meeting
12:00 PM Covered Dish Lunch - Please bring a dish to share.
Lent
Ash Wednesday, February 14
Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
7:30 am, 12:20 pm and 6 pm
3:30 pm, Children's Service (Ashes Only)
Lenten Morning Prayer Morning Prayer will be offered at 8:30 a.m., Monday through Friday during Lent starting Thursday, February 15. If you are interested in leading one or more of these services please contact
Sharon Massie.
Thursday Lenten Service and Lunch at Manly
The Community Lenten Preaching Service and Lunch will be held on Thursdays at 12:10 beginning February 15 and continuing through Lent at Manly Memorial Baptist Church. Sponsored by Rockbridge Area Ministers Association.
Wednesday Lenten Series begins February 21
Pursuing the Beloved Community
Catered dinner at 6 pm
$6 adults/$3 children/$15 family max
Make reservations with the Parish Office
6:30 -7:30 Lenten Programs
For Adults
Pursuing the Beloved Community (see description below)
For Children
Meet the Saints - Let's unveil how Christ's light has shone brightly in the lives of men and women through centuries. Join a journey with the saints and your family, learning more about the monks, missionaries, prophets, doctors, evangelists, and more who have led us on our way.
About Pursuing the Beloved Community
Some of you may have heard the news that the Presiding Bishop has expressed an interest in visiting Grace Church when he comes to the diocese next January. Such a visit would be an historic moment among many for this parish and for
those of us who call it home.
Before anyone gets too excited, this is not on the calendar. It is reportedly an expressed wish.
However, one of the ways we can begin to prepare is by pursuing the Formation series "Pursuing the Beloved Community," which some of you may have attended one session of here in Lexington last Fall. Dr. Wornie Reed, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Race and Social Policy Center at Virginia Tech spoke at the Pursuing the Beloved Community sessions on race, privilege and the theological commitments to justice and peace found in scripture and our Anglican tradition. Our diocese has developed his presentations into this formation series.
The series is divided into five sessions of an hour each. Each session will feature prayer, video clips from the Pursuing Beloved Community lectures held in the Fall of 2017, reflection questions and action steps.
In addition, I am recommending some ancillary reading from a little book of very big ideas by the man many see as the spiritual source person for the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's, Howard Thurman. The title of the book is The Search for Common Ground. I highly recommend it.
From Father James
REFLECTING ON THE JOYS OF BEING ILL
Well, I must say that being ill is not all bells and whistles.
What a great time to read, if you felt like reading.
What a great to time to pray, if one felt like praying.
What a great time to eat, but I promise you I have not felt like eating.
I could list other pleasures...
Even coughing offers only very limited enjoyment.
On the other hand, I'm getting over this. The fever is gone. It is now sub-normal--
some would say, "like it's subject...."
The Lord is good
His mercies endure forever
One of the bonuses has been the multitude of emails from Lexington wishing me well
some with poems,
some with encouragement to listen to my wife
(Nobody thought to suggest how I might avoid listening to my wife)
many with encouragement to get really well--
before returning on Sunday.
And all the time I'm thinking
It's Friday, Sunday's coming
It's February and Ash Wednesday is now one week away
It's February and the Vestry Retreat is now ...one week away
It's February and Lent is, by now you know what I'm going to write...
It's February and the Bishop is coming in six weeks
It's February and Holy Week begins in seven weeks
It's enough to make me want to be sick again or to be able to
redeem the lost time
But you know what? We serve a God who somehow sees us through it all.
With the Psalmist [from 147] we can say
Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God!
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars
and calls them all by their names.
He provides food for flocks and herds
and for the young ravens when they cry.
He is not impressed by the might of a horse;
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who await his gracious favor.
This illness has been so minor. Let's not spend our time on it anymore.
God is good. God is always good.
All things will be well. All manner of things will be well.
We will even celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Easter without expiring.
Thanks be to God,
Fr. James
Parish News
Our Parish is saddened by the deaths of Jack Wainwright on February 2, 2018 and Lois Crewdson on February 7.
Helen Head Book Signing Sunday, February 11
Some forty years ago Helen Head wrote a story,
The Mysterious Elephant, that she read to her grandchildren. Her son, David, kept it and surprised her this Christmas by printing it into a booklet and having a parishioner of his Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, who is an artist, do a painting that he used for the booklet cover. He has wanted Helen to sell it at an autograph signing session and wants to come for the occasion. Helen will offer her book for sale and sign it at the breakfast and after the 10:30 service. All proceeds will go to Children's Christian Education. Helen was a long time Sunday school teacher and church school superintendent at
R E Lee Memorial Church.
Shrove Tuesday Brown Bag Lunch
ECW Shrove Tuesday Brown Bag Lunch. Please come at noon on
Tuesday, February 13, in the Parish Hall, to discuss fund-raising ideas for the future. Beverages and dessert, with a Mardi Gras theme, will be provided. We want to brainstorm about new ways to raise funds for outreach to do God's work in our community and the world. Bring a bag lunch and all your best ideas. ECW just stands for Episcopal Church Women,
and that's all of us!
Phase II of the Capital Campaign Underway
Phase II of the Capital Campaign kicked off in November with revised estimates to renovate the undercroft and drawings illustrating how we will make the spaces more usable and modernized and yet reflect its historical past. New gifts have been coming in to support the renovation. In the waning days of 2017 a gift of $100,000 was received toward this renovation, which means we are almost at 70% of our goal to fully renovate the undercroft by Labor Day 2018.
2018 Pledge Envelopes
Pledge envelopes are available for pickup on the bridge. If you have any questions contact Angie Fafatas by calling the Parish Office.
A Belated Thank You
Thank you from the Higher Ed ministry to all who helped with exam bags. To the middle school students, Ginny, Elaine, Graham, Avery and Lily who decorated bags, stuffed them and passed them out to students and to all who contributed the contents. Our students were surprised and appreciative. Thank you for supporting these members of our parish community during a time of stress.
Second Annual Hometown Hope Benefit, Saturday, March 3
Please join Lexington native, Susan Mead, and friends for the Second Annual Hometown Hope Benefit on Saturday, March 3 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall at Grace Episcopal Church,
123 W. Washington Street, Lexington, Virginia
. This unique event will benefit Diversity Serves, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization with local, regional and international projects, including Hope House International, which houses more than 20 children from South Sudan being educated in the safe haven of Kitale, Kenya.
The afternoon benefit will offer "Tea Time and Treasures" from 4 - 5:30 p.m., and a "Happy Hour for Hope" from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.. Both will feature refreshments and opportunities to browse tables with items for silent auction and sale, arranged according to the following themes: "From Africa to Appalachia," "Diversity Treasures and Treats," Children's Choices and Challenges," "Opportunities! On and Off the Road," "Women's Empowerment and Education," and "Housewares for Hope House." Information on each table will educate participants about the various projects of Diversity Serves and how donations will be spent. For more information, please contact Dr. Susan Virginia Mead at
[email protected]
Christian Education for Children, Youth and Adults
Sunday School for Children, 9:15, 3rd floor
Christianity and Culture, Parish Hall, 9:15
February 4 Prayer in your Life, Joanne Robblee
Prayer is a personal journey for each one of us. Joanne will discuss prayer using different resources and insights.
February 11 Pancake Breakfast and Lenten Jeopardy February 18 TBA
February 18 TBA
February 25 no class
Lectio Divina Starts February 18, 9:15, College Room
As Anglicans we are heirs to a rich tradition of practices to help us grow spiritually. During the 9:15 Sunday School hour during Lent beginning February 18 we will be exploring one of these structured practices: Lectio Divina. Part of both Protestant and Catholic traditions, it consists of prayerful reading of Scriptures. It is often described as learning to attend to God with the "ear of our heart." There are many ways to practice Lectio Divina but we will be having a short period of silence to focus our attention. We will then slowly twice read the Gospel passage for that Sunday. We will then silently meditate on what we heard in the Gospel with a focus on listening for the Holy Spirit and how we saw Christ in the passage. There will be an opportunity for each group member to voluntarily share what was heard with no discussion. We will end with a period of silent prayer and contemplation and close with the Lord's Prayer. You just need to bring yourself and a desire to open yourself to God and to grow in the light of Christ. We will be meeting in the College Room on the top floor of the Parish Hall. If you have questions, please contact Marlys Craun at [email protected] or 463-3288. Please join us.
Adult Inquirers and Confirmation Class, 9:15, Library
All are welcome to attend, whether you are considering confirmation, want to know more about the Episcopal Church.
Godly Play, Tuesday, 3:45 - 4:30
Godly Play provides a time and a space for children to engage with God and with the story of God's people in the Bible. A Godly Play session includes a time to gather in a circle with music and singing, a time to listen to a story, a time of wondering, and a time for children to respond to the story through art or creative play.
Godly Play will continue during Lent.
Choir News
Grace Parish Choir
The Grace Parish Choir is welcoming new members, including visitors and college students. We sing a variety of choral repertoire and are a caring, loyal group. Rehearsals are Thursday at 7pm and warm-up
Sunday is 9:45 in the Nave. For more information contact Julia White, Interim Choir Director and Organist at [email protected] or on
Sunday mornings.
Junior Choir
Junior Choir meets on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 4:45. Children ages 7 and up will learn to sing, read music, and understand music theory. Come join the fun!
Lacey Lynch is our Junior Choir interim director.
DEO groups continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays
DEO - Discipling Each Other, is a simple practice that has turned out to be surprisingly refreshing and energizing. We meet weekly for an hour; there is no leader or mentor, and it is completely confidential. This kind of mutual discipling provides practical ways to see Christ working in our daily life and in our church. There is a Tuesday morning group at 9 am and one for women on Thursdays at 7:30 pm.
Men's Prayer Breakfast
Men of our parish will meet in our Parish Hall on Tuesdays at 7 am weekly for breakfast, prayer and fellowship. All are welcome!
Kendal Bible Study and Holy Eucharist with Fr. James on Thursdays, at 10:00.
February Parish Birthdays
2 Clarinda Carrington
Chip Schram
3 Sally Sessoms
5 Nat Massie
12 George Brooke
14 Paula Cooper
19 Shane Fergerson
21 Julia Hentz
Steve Riethmiller
Douglas Roper
22 Nancy Dinkel
Shannon Huger
23 Graham Hess
Beverly Tucker
24 Holt Merchant
27 Joseph Henson
28 Caitie Carrington
Erin Carrington
Grace Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Virginia
Parish Staff
Members of the Vestry
Merce Brooke, Lynn Dent, Gail Dickerson,
Don Ellis (Sr. Warden), Keith Gibson (Jr. Warden), Tom Gosse,
Catherine Harcus, Susan Lawrence,
Peggy Riethmiller, Tracey Riley, Woody Sadler, Steve Shultis.
Joanne Robblee, Clerk
Greg Lemmer, Treasurer
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Serving in February
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Calendar of Events
click link to view calendar
Grace filled moments in the life of Grace Episcopal Church.
Clockwise from top right corner Ordination of Anne Grizzle to the Priesthood on January 6th,The Feast day of the Epiphany, Labyrinth on a snowy day, delegates to the DIOSWVA 99th Convention, Youth@Convention (Sophie Brown was on the leadership team and Elaine Price participated.) and more delegates.
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